1 John 1:6-7; 2:11 - Walking Blind

While walking my dog through an expansive, snow-covered field, I had the childish urge to close my eyes and see how far I could walk in a straight line toward a distant point.*  I plodded through the snow only a few paces before opening my eyes to see that I was already veering from my intended target. Looking behind me I could see that I started getting off track in only a few steps.

When we get off track with God, we've probably been blind to exactly where we started to wander.

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 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." (1 John 1:6–7, New American Standard Bible, 1995)

"But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness." (1 John 2:11, New Living Translation)

Those verses identify two causes for wandering due to spiritual blindness.

The first one is lies. We might listen to untruths from our culture, our friends, our enemies, the devil (Jn 8:44), or we may even lie to ourselves (1 Cor 3:18; Gal 6:3; Jms 1:26).

The second one is Hate. Haven't you heard of someone being "blinded by hate?"
Rather than admit that we hate anyone, we tone it down:
"I'll show them Christian charity, but I don't have to be their friend." (Luke 10:29)
"They make me righteously indignant."
"I just give them a wide berth."

Whether you call it hate or an absence of love, the result is the same.

God, I'm blind to my own blindness! Take inventory of my life (Ps 139:23-24). Show me where I've gotten off track and veered in the wrong direction. Overcome lies with truth. Conquer hate with love. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

* See August 28, 2020 - John 12:35 - "Marco! Polo!"