Love On: A Study Through 1 Johnنموونە

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”—1 John 1:6 (NKJV)

We all understand what a walking contradiction is, don’t we? A walking contradiction is a dentist who never brushes or flosses. It’s a cook who can’t stand the sight of food. It’s an athlete whose bedroom walls are plastered with posters of the opposing team. Or it’s an accountant who doesn’t believe one plus one equals two. 

These examples trigger a sense of justice inside of us that says, “These things simply don’t go together, and there’s something really wrong when they do!” The apostle John is going to seize that sense inside of us and present the ultimate walking contradiction. However, it doesn’t deal with dentistry, cuisine, athletics, or accounting. It involves the all-important area of Christ in our lives.

John presents us with a scenario where a person claims to be in fellowship with Jesus. He or she is making it a priority in life to be as close as possible to Him. The person isn’t perfect but is talking to Him in prayer, listening to Him through His Word, and trying to obey Him. 

If you’ve found yourself in a friend’s company who you feel you can share anything with and you lose all sense of time when you’re with the person, then you have an idea of what it means to have fellowship with the Lord. It’s that level of intimacy.

Then, the scenario takes a twist: That very same person is also walking in darkness. That is, he is pursuing a lifestyle that’s inconsistent with the light that’s projected by Jesus. He watches what he knows he shouldn’t, he consumes what he knows he shouldn’t, he says what he knows he shouldn’t, and he thinks and dwells on what he knows he shouldn’t.

John emphasizes that this is a walking contradiction. A person who is close to Jesus will not, and cannot, also chase after and be at home with the things that are opposite of His heart. Nor can a person who pursues darkness know the closeness of Jesus in their lives. Light and darkness cannot share the same space, especially not in the same heart. It must be one or the other.

What are we to do with this? Sometimes it just comes down to making a choice and sticking with it. And when we choose light, Jesus promises the power of His Spirit to follow through with that choice.  We must simply decide which would one we would rather have: the light of Christ’s presence in our heart or the deeds of darkness.

DIG: What is the ultimate walking contradiction? How does one avoid being a walking contradiction for Christ?   

DISCOVER: What does “darkness” look like in your life?

DO: Examine your life today. Is there any area currently where you are living as a walking contradiction? Ask the Lord to help you reflect Christ well in this area.