To listen to this week's podcast click here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2324960/15585547-progressing-on-the-path-to-enlightenment-episode-21.mp3?download=true
If you've been with me these last few weeks, you know we’ve been discussing identity and transformation.
It is such a hot topic in today's world. Everywhere you look, an identity crisis is happening, and people are searching for answers. I watched a video reel on Facebook yesterday from an attorney I worked with many years ago. In this video, she's promoting a book she wrote that's getting ready to be released, and she shares how she believes freedom and transformation are found in the "magic of self." And what I saw in her words, dress, and presentation was that she looks, acts, and thinks- just like the world. Like a little replica of Taylor Swift- glamorizing fame and self. She is her own “little g god” claiming freedom, success, happiness, and joy, are all found within herself within her own (and I quote) "magic." Don't get me wrong, I applaud her for wanting the same thing I have- freedom and transformation. It's just not found in this world or within our power or magic as she puts it. I believe it's found in the Creator of the Universe and that when we partner with Him- He does all the hard work, and His life changing results last- no matter what the world throws our way!
With that said, today, I want to share with you how we can maintain our progress and continue moving forward without losing momentum and without being deceived by the ways of this world. The key is found in the Book of 1 John, where the Apostle John warns believers not to be deceived and urges them to find complete joy in the Lord.
Now, wouldn't you agree that a truly successful life is one that is filled with abundant joy? Authentic, lasting joy that isn't dependent upon your circumstances. Because you can have all the wealth or fame in the world, but if you have no joy, what's the point?
Before we proceed, I need to point out something important- what we will be discussing today is directed only to believers, believers in Jesus the Messiah. Here's a little secret many people don't understand: there are fringe benefits to being a believer, and it's not just about eternal life.
Today, we will explore one of these benefits… enjoying a relationship with God.
Let's get started!
Because we are discussing relationships, I want you to remember your childhood best friend. How'd you meet? What made you such good friends? How did your friendship bloom and grow?
For the sake of this podcast, I will call my childhood best friend Cindy. I met her going into the 4th grade right after we moved to Richmond, Virginia, and I was the "new kid on the block." We became fast friends- riding bikes in the neighborhood, sleepovers, hide-n-seek, hiking to the nearby convenience store to buy candy, spending snow days together drinking hot cocoa, and summers trying to stay cool. We navigated our childhood and entrance into adulthood together. Laughing, crying, dreaming- doing life together! She was my partner-in-crime, my confidant, and my friend. Forty-four years later- she's still precious to me, and even though life has taken us in different directions, we are still connected. Connected in love.
Our relationship with God should be no different. Relationships are built on intimacy and trust and time spent doing life- together! Not just in name but in action.
The Apostle John knew this intimately. He was blessed to have experienced this relationship with Jesus while Jesus walked the earth, and he knows first-hand that it's still possible today—for us!
I know it's difficult to accept that we can have a thriving relationship with someone we cannot see or touch, but if we dive into God's word, John gives us a glimpse into the how….
As I read 1 John 1:5 through 1 John 2:11 – I want you to listen and see if anything jumps out or is highlighted for you…
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
I know it sounds like a lot, but it’s a lot of words that describe a simple concept- and that concept is this:
God is light. A relationship with God means walking with Him consistently in that light and allowing the light to change us so that we can love God, love ourselves, and love others.
Let’s unpack this a little bit further…
I particularly love the part that says- “God is light- there is no darkness in Him.”
I've always focused more on the second part- that there is no darkness, evil, malice, nothing terrible in God's character.
Yet, understanding the first part- the importance of the light is essential.
Why must we walk in the light? Because light reveals.
We know this on an intellectual level, but we seem to forget it on a practical level. It was during an extensive “hunt” for a lost key that this practical truth really hit me—that light really does make all the difference!
I had frantically searched all over my house for this key. I knew it had to be somewhere, so I searched under my sofa at least thrice and found nothing. But, the moment I brought in a high-powered flashlight, everything changed. What was lost was now found!
Suddenly, the key comes gleaming into focus (along with a few gnawed dog toys, a broken nail file, and a blanket of shimmering dust)!
What a difference the light made; everything was there before but somehow was invisible to my eyes. Much like the "clean" floor, when the sunlight hits it just right, you realize the floor is filthy, covered in dust, crumbs, and dog hair!
It is the light that illuminates and gives us the ability to see clearly.
Why is this concept so difficult to apply to our own lives?
Let's be honest; in many ways, we prefer the dark. It feels safe and comfortable – a place where we can hide and pretend all is right and where we don't have to see the truth.
What a lie! We were made to live in the light!
Consider this: without light, vision isn’t possible. We need light for so many things- light for Vitamin D production, light to set our circadian rhythm, light to produce melatonin for skin protection, and serotonin for mood enhancement.
Conversely, living in darkness breeds deficiency, confusion, disorientation, despair, depression, and blindness!
Light is where goodness and life reside. Light is needed to nourish our body and soul.
Light reveals and illuminates not just the outside world but also the light of God, which illuminates internally!
The Bible is clear on the source of true light:
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~John 8:12
“You (God) are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light.” ~Psalm 36:9
In his Bible study on the book of 1 John, Dr. Tony Evans says:
"Many believers are not growing in their experience of God. They may know they're on their way to heaven, but they're not experiencing his reality on earth, because either they don't walk in the light, or if they walk in the light and now have their sin revealed, they do not obey the truth, and now walk in the darkness.”
Believers have a choice—we can walk in the light where God dwells or in the darkness. We cannot do both.
The Apostle John gets pretty harsh and calls us out on multiple pointsn when he says:
Verse 1:6- “If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions.”
Verse 1:8- “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Verse 1:10- “If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
Verse 2:4-“Whoever says, “I know him”, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
Verse 2:9- “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.”
Verse 2:11- “But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
Did you hear it? Lying, deceiving, hating, lost, and blind! That's what we are when we choose to walk by ourselves – outside of His light and the joyous friendship with Jesus!
Here's the thing: we aren't perfect, and God doesn't expect us to be perfect. However, when we walk in the light with the Lord, that light will reveal because God only deals with reality and truth.
He's that ultimate best friend who loves you and will tell you the truth! He will tell you when you have something in your teeth- or that dress looks terrible. Or the guy you think is perfect is a loser!
That's what happens when we walk in the light of the Lord—the light begins to reveal our hidden junk. And when it is revealed, we have a choice: we can ignore it and hide in the darkness, or we can acknowledge and confess it. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
It’s important to clarify what the word “confess” means- it's not just a verbal admission of a wrong. Instead, to "confess" means "to speak the same as God." To agree with Him in both word and action. We confess by agreeing with what He has to say on a matter.
It's how we stay walking in the light. To be in perfect step with Him. Staying on the fully illuminated pathway is where wholeness, peace, love, confidence, truth, freedom, and sight are found- ALL IN THE LIGHT!
Jesus is the light of this world. He brings deliverance into our lives by illuminating all our dark places! Telling us who we really are- speaking truth over us! He is our advocate and works behind the scenes on our behalf. He calls us into the light; He wants to be our best friend -the confidant we share our secrets with- and the one who extends forgiveness when we mess up. He invites us to join Him in loving those that He loves and that includes loving ourselves!
Ladies- There is joy in the light! So, step into it! Boldy walk unafraid in it- it is a safe place where you can be real- be honest- you can be you! A place where you can find continued healing and transformation. Just know that when you stumble and fall (and you will)- It’s OK- because Jesus is right there to pick you up. He'll dust you off, put you back on your feet, kiss your forehead, and tell you, "My best friend, take my hand, let’s go again. Together. I've got you. You don’t need to be afraid- the darkness is passing, and my true light is already shining on you.”
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