As we continue our walk through 1 John, we pick up at verse 7, of Chapter 2. Under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit, the Apostle John writes:
“Dear Friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
1 John 2: 7-11
The evil one, is a master at deception. He deceived Adam and Eve, God’s children in the Garden into believing him instead of God. He deceives God’s children in the world into the thinking ‘the way of the world’ is the way to live even though there is poverty, and hunger and murder and sickness and the horror and more that goes with all of that.. He deceives the “radical religious” into thinking they are serving God as they kill those who do not agree with them on what pleases God.
In the scripture verses we are looking at here, the Apostle is talking about love, and hatred for fellow believers The deceiver can do his thing even among those who profess to know Christ. He wants to see us quarrel and argue over how to worship, how to carry the Gospel to the world, what is right, and what is wrong. There are over 600 denominations, and most of the time we tolerate each other. We don’t kill each other, but in too many cases we are very judgmental, and feel that we are the only ones doing it right. We can make it very complicated. But, Jesus came into this world with a simple message. He said: “Love each another.” (John 15:17). He proved by His actions – His life, His death, His resurrection, that He is the Messiah. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is Love personified. Those who believe and accept Him as who He is,and ask Him into their hearts are simply asked to “Love each other”, as He loves us. We can only do that in and by The Holy Spirit within, but that is why He lives in us.
John was writing to those who profess to love and follow Christ, but their actions and words showed there was hate in their heart. As a Christian, even though we love the Lord, we may have hate for someone, or some thing because we still walk in the flesh. Because of our free will, we can choose to not open that area to The Lord, and it remains a dark spot within. He was telling them, and us today “The True Light is already shining”. John knows this to be true because he was standing beside Jesus when the Lord said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) John was saying “the light is already shining”; let the Lord’s presence shine on every area of your life. Let it shine on Hate in particular. When “hate” pops up, if it is not hatred of evil, it IS evil. It is darkness. It is the polar opposite of the light of love.
As John wrote, we may be walking in darkness, and it has us blinded. We may have some blind spots of hatred, and not realize it. If hatred is there, it could be effecting many things in our life: Health, happiness, prosperity, wisdom, understanding, trust, and faith. Let us purpose to ask The Lord to show us if there is hatred in our heart. Let us not walk in deception that it is o k to hate someone because of what they may be doing or have done. Let us “open the blinds”, and allow the Light to shine in. Victory shall be ours through Him.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, my Friends. May He make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May He turn His face toward you, and give you peace.
Love to you all in Christ Jesus.
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line