1 John 1:5–7 - A Light Contradiction

If you've been tracking this series on the topic of "Light" you'll notice something that may sound like a contradiction. Yet some of the best insights into Scripture come from wrestling with such apparent contradictions. Let's look at one.

In one sense, God is Light. But sometimes the darkness around us is the "shadow of His wing." [Cp. "The Dark Side of God" with "Shadow Run"] How can it be both at the same time?

To complicate it further, the Bible compares righteousness to "light" and unrighteousness to "darkness." So if I find myself in a dark place, how do I know whether it's due to my own bad choices, or because it's a shadow cast by God's protective wing?

Consider another principle in the Bible: Walking in the Light.

1 John 1:5–7 (New American Standard Bible, 1995) — 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Walking in the light is living a life open before God. If things are going great, I share it with God. If things are dark, I share that with God. If the darkness is of my own doing (i.e., sin) God will shine His light on it--not to make me feel guilty, but so I can experience His forgiveness. If the darkness is due to other reasons, "walking in the light" is allowing God to redeem it, allowing Him to turn my dark situation into the "shadow of His wing."

Lord, Life can be so confusing at times. I'm unsure of what is going on around me, and even figuring out my inner thoughts and feelings get twisted around. Sometimes things look dark simply because I'm at a loss to know where to turn. Did I get myself into this mess? So I turn to You. Lead me in Your Light... even if that means staying within the shadow of Your wing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Idaho tee shirt: compliments of my mother-in-law, Nancy, for my 65th birthday, 9/20/20.