Walking In The Light

I love the word pictures in the Bible

They really help me see truth.

Here's a good example from 1 John:

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) 5 "This is the message we have heard from him (Jesus) and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin."

To be walking in the light means we have to be on the lighted path:

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) 105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

We are placed on that path by accepting Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
We believe He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day.
He's the bridge from the path of darkness to the path of light.
There is no other.

But when John talks about walking in the light, he's not talking about being perfect.
Otherwise, why would he say this is the next few verses:

1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) 8 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."


As I was thinking about this, the word WALK stood out as if it had been lit up itself.
When we walk, we're moving.
Step by step we're heading in a specific direction.
We may hit a pothole and stumble from time to time.
But Jesus reaches out his hand, helps us to get back up, and encourages us to continue on our journey in the same direction.

Despite the stumbles we follow Him gladly.
One step forward, two steps back.
Maybe.
But I keep going.
And I remind myself that I'm farther along the path today than I was last year.
Jesus says "Don't be discouraged. Keep walking with me".
And so I will.
What about you?