In the Light: Part 1 - Blog Edition
Hey all you Jesus Freaks! Are you walking in the light? What does it really mean to be “in the light?” Just Between You and Me, So Help Me God, we must think about that Day by Day, lest we Stumble and Fall. (Sorry! Couldn’t resist the album track puns.)
If you didn’t know, a celebration is taking place at Mixtape Theology. This month commemorates the 25th anniversary of DC Talk’s iconic “Jesus Freak” album. One doesn’t have to be an avid 90s CCM fan to know the impact of the album. Jesus Freak broke ground in the Christian genre while also catapulting into mainstream, and the album stands the test of time. In my Mind’s Eye, you could release the album today and it would be just as relevant.
“In the Light,” written by Charlie Peacock, was one of the mega hits on the album in which Toby, Michael, and Kevin blew our minds with undeniable groove. As sweet as the beat and ambiance of the song is, the biblical meaning surpasses any nostalgic high you may experience when you crank it up. To be sure, Christians are to be walking in the light. This goes without saying, yet we must be reminded, lest we stumble and fall. (Oops I did again! Couldn’t help myself.)
Much of the lyrics of the chorus come straight from Scripture. In 1 John 1:7-8, the apostle states, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Often when Christians think light, we think about shining the light into the darkness. This is of course biblical and true. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Indeed, we are to be light in a dark world. The song definitely displays those undertones, but something else must take place before we carry our candles into the darkness.
Christ followers must be in the light ourselves. The light must shine in our own lives before we set it on a lampstand. In fact, it won’t shine unless we first are illuminated. And, we do not achieve illumination. Rather, light radiates the One in whom we trust. Consider the first verse:
I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I doWhat's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
Walking in the light is about salvation. It encourages us to not look to what we can do, but what has been done for us. Romans 5:8 reminds us that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Acts 4:12 proclaims that there is no name under heaven other than Jesus in which we can be saved. Go ahead and put your name in that blank. You can’t save yourself. You deserve death, and Jesus is the only escape.
And when it comes to “you,” the battle rages. Yes, we are selfish. We can’t stand how we act when our flesh rules the day. This constant reminder beckons us to trust in another’s life, because we assuredly stand in need of grace and the strength of our Savior each day. Realizing that, and trusting in Him instead of trusting in yourself, is walking in the light.
Verse two continues:
The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control
“Disease of self, running through our blood” is incredible lyrical writing. To be sure, our self and flesh are often our own worst enemy. Yes, selfishness, pride, sin, and flesh flow through us in our old man. We can try our best, and never seem to overcome this powerful disease of unrighteousness. That is precisely why we need the “blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.” Jesus makes us righteous and gives new identities in Him. We are now in Christ, and Christ is in us. We find forgiveness in Him alone, and we now live in the light of that forgiveness.
I have found that one of the truest ways to walk in the light is to realize who is in me, and spend time with Him. As Christians, we cannot forget who we are, who is in us, and who we are in! Being in Christ is walking in the light!
I hope you caught that. If you are “in Christ” and live each day understanding where you are, you will be walking in the light! As John told us in his gospel, He is the light! Only when we understand that we are to be walking in the light as we trust and rest in Him each day will we be able to light up the darkness.
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” – 2 Timothy 1:9
“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being . . .” – Acts 17:28
“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14
As we walk in Him and He shines in us, may we be beacons of the light giver. His life is the light we display. The chorus brings both the idea of us being in the light and displaying our light perfectly together:
I want to be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I want to shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
“The LORD is my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1) In Him is where I most want to be!
Check out “In the Light : Part 2 – Vlog Edition” to learn more about how we are to be shining like the stars in the heavens no matter our circumstance. Jesus is light in the darkness, and He came to Earth so we would illuminate HIM!
