“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” 1 John 1:6
Claiming to be with God while living in sin is self-deception. “Walk in the darkness” here represents sin, ignorance, and separation from God. To the Ephesians Paul said, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” Ephesians 4:18. Paul connects this darkness to a hardened heart, which blinds people from understanding God’s truth. You say, how about ignorance. Hosea 4:6 says:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” God isn’t saying His people perish because they were never told the truth. But by everyday choices they chose to ignore what they have been taught.
Jesus speaks about the body being full of light in Luke 11:34-36 and Matthew 6:22-23 which gives us a clearer understanding of the contradiction that our text is talking about.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”
Think of it this way: If our eyes are fixed on God’s truth, our whole life will reflect His light. But if our eyes are drawn to sinful desires, deception, and worldly distractions, darkness creeps in.
For example: If you constantly watch impure content, don’t be surprised if you struggle with sinful thoughts. If you surround yourself with toxic influences, don’t wonder why you feel spiritually drained. If you spend more time absorbing the world’s opinions than God’s Word, confusion and doubt will take root.
So, this morning. ask yourself: Is there an area of my life where I’m walking in darkness while claiming to be in the light? This could be a habit, a hidden sin, an attitude, or even compromising your faith to fit in.
Spend intentional time with God through prayer and His Word. Filter what you consume—what you watch, listen to, and think about matters. And surround yourself with godly influences who will encourage you to walk in the light.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk