When I was in high school, my father was the Camp Director for Skyridge Christian Youth Camp in New Mexico. Such fun memories…Big foot came, Bible lessons on the side of the mountain, hikes up “Mt. Sinai”, volleyball games, foosball games, night hikes with devotionals under the stars, skit night, Vera’s cinnamon rolls and fried chicken…the memories flood my mind. Sweet, fun, happy memories. One of my favorite events took place every Friday night, which was the last night at camp. We had finished worship, skits, awards and given hugs to any parents that showed up. We grabbed our jackets and flashlights and went on our last night hike. This night hike was special. It was down the hill, through a gate. The trail was filled with dips & holes. You had to avoid sticks, tree limbs and big rocks along the way. Finally, we would walk into a big open meadow. All the campers and staff would form a big circle and set out under the stars where we worshipped God. It was my favorite time at camp. The light from our flashlight was the key to making the trek to the meadow safely. Without it, many would have been hurt walking and stumbling through the darkness.

 Lately, God has allowed me an opportunity to do some teaching of His word to different ladies. One thing that continues to come up is “What happens when I sin? I know I can’t live a perfect life.” Have you ever been there? I know I have. There is a section of scripture in 1 John 1 that comes to mind each time I hear this question.

 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 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[b] 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. 1 John 1:5-10

                        What does it look like to walk in the light? Go back to the last night hike above. Those of us that were not the first in line or the last in line had the best spots. Why? Because there were flashlights shining on the path in front of us and behind us. We had a better light to see where we were going. Sometimes there would be 3 or 4 of us that were walking beside each other. Occasionally one of us on the outside would stumble. They would catch the edge of a limb or a rock in the darkness and trip. They were still walking in the light, but they were far enough to the edge that they stumbled. The good news is no one ever fell completely off the path or got hurt. Because there were a group of us walking in the light together, we were able to help those that stumbled get back on the lighted path.

When looking at the scripture above there are a couple of takeaways that can help us walk in the light. 

  1. Light shines bright in the darkness. With Jesus being the light, His truth shows us where to walk. We don’t have to stay in the dark (sin) unless we chose to. He is the only Way. (Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6)
  2. When we are in Jesus, we choose to walk in the light. When we walk in the light, we do not walk alone. We walk with other believers. Believers that help us on our journey with Him through the darkness of this world. (19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20)
  3. Just as one of us might stumble on the outside of the light’s edge, God provides a way for us to get back into the center of the light, His light. We confess our sin to Him and He forgives us. (1 John 1:9)The fellowship of believers helps you with your confession because of the prayers that are said on your behalf.  (16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.)

You see, on the night of the night hike if I would have said, “I know a better way to go” and took off on my own with no light, I would have failed to reach the beautiful meadow to worship God. Only through turning my back on Jesus and walking away from Him and fellow believers do I leave His light and not reach His promised “meadow” — heaven.  Jesus gives us EVERY opportunity to walk in His light. He does not want us to stumble and fall in the darkness of sin. Jesus is THE LIGHTed WAY.

            Keep your flashlights on and walk in the light.

Blessings – Cherie

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