MONSTERS OF THE DARK

1 John 1:5-2:2
5 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 yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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 has no place in our lives.

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--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.


Monsters Inc., the hit animated film, plays off a familiar fear: every child's terror of what lurks in the closet! In the movie, the kids' fright provided electrical power for Monstropolis, where the monsters lived.

Now, I'm not here to debate the existence of Monstropolis, or its need to search for alternative energy sources. The movie's plot, however, touches a raw nerve we all experienced in our childhood. When the lights go out, the fear kicks in.

When we live in spiritual darkness--apart from God--we may experience fear. We can't see what lies ahead, behind, or around us. We need God to turn on the lights.

When He enlightens us spiritually, through a personal relationship with Him, it doesn't stop there. We must also walk in the light. God shines in our lives and shows us the way to go.

That certainly beats stumbling around in the dark. Sometimes, of course, we revert to our old ways. We close our eyes to shut out God's light. You can guess what happens: We start stumbling again. Or we stop dead in our tracks, afraid to take even one step.

The apostle John was a bottom-line thinker. To him, living in the light meant walking in the light. That has two practical implications. First, it implies obedience. And that's a theme you see throughout 1 John.

Second, as you walk in the light, take a look around, and what do you see? Other Christians! When we are in fellowship with God, we are also in fellowship with each other, and we walk together.

One helpful thing about light is that it helps you see everything. No monsters can hide; the light exposes them. So we have no reason to fear while walking in God's light.

The characters of Monstropolis don't need your fear to power their blenders. In fact, only your spiritual adversaries crave your fear so they can rob you of your spiritual energy. Instead, turn on the light! --John Carvalho

DESTINATION POINTS

* How will I walk "in the light" today? * What areas of my life should change because I'm walking in the light?

LINKS:
Am I Really Forgiven?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/8c2/8c2090.html

bottom line: Walking in the light dispels fear.

soul journey