Integrity #7—Enlightened Integrity

If we say that we have fellowship with God, but walk in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing 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

One startling analogy the Bible uses for living with integrity is “walking in the light.” This involves acknowledging all of reality as God defines it and reveals it to us. When we walk in the light, we experience panoramic vision rather than tunnel vision. Panoramic vision gives us situational awareness so we can align ourselves with the truth. Tunnel vision causes us to love and worship a portion of creation by blowing it out of proportion. We cannot make wise and loving decisions that take into consideration all necessary factors. Three marvelous benefits accrue to us when we walk in the light: 1) Spiritual cleansing: for seeing all of reality surely involves confessing our sin—those times when we exercise tunnel vision—as God reveals it. 2) Fellowship with “one another,” the fullness of the godhead: when we and God are both “in the light,” we are enjoying the truth that God is the one true source of joy in life. 3) Fellowship with other believers: instead of living in our own privately defined world, we participate together with everyone whose hope is in the Lord. Holding fast to this integrity will give us the strength to persevere through every trial.

Thank you for transferring me from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light; from allegiance to the Prince of Darkness to the Light of the World. Keep me following the path as you light it.