But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7, ESV

 

Isn’t there something about light that is appealing, both literally and figuratively? As beautiful as a sunrise, it brings joy to the heart and lights up dark spaces with truth and warmth; no-one can see what’s happening in the dark before the light, but when the light breaks through, it chases darkness away revealing life and hope.

 

There is absolutely nothing dark about God; He “lives in unapproachable light” (1Timothy 6:16, NIV) in such brightness that even darkness is light to Him (Psalm139:12) and so brilliant that no person could look at it. But the brilliance of His being is also radiated because of the purity of His character. He is the epitome of holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and grace; He is love.

 

When Moses asks to see His glory, God answers,”I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you ... but … you cannot see my face … and live.” (Exodus 33:19-20, NIV) God, Himself, compares His glory with His goodness.

 

When Moses met with God on Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he stayed there “forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 34:28, NIV) and on his return to the people “he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” (Exodus 34:29, NIV) Interestingly, instead of being drawn to him, everyone feared Moses because of it.

 

When we spend time with God, our faith and understanding flourish as God enlightens us through Moses, and the prophets, that this is the same Truth and Salvation that Jesus “the true light, which gives light to everyone,” (John 1:9) embodies, in perfect connection. Jesus confirms He has not, “come to abolish the Law or the Prophets … but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) Moses gave the Law, but Jesus shows how to live it.

 

Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments in, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31, NIV) Jesus died to show His love for us, to connect us to what love truly means, and open the way to eternal life.

 

When we love God, we walk with Him in His light as we revere and serve Him with every fibre of our being; when we love our neighbour, we honour them by treating them as we would like to be treated. There is no space to disgrace, or disrespect, our parents; to kill anyone; to cheat on our spouse; steal from anyone, anywhere; to lie or cheat; or even want what belongs to our neighbour. (Exodus 20:3-17)

 

Upholding this law of love brings harmony between God and us, and us and our neighbour; we receive peace that the world cannot give.

 

God is the same today as He was then; His commandments never change. The law He gave Moses to provide a system of moral and ethical living in the desert, instructed them on how to relate to Him and to one another then; how much more does our dark world need His commandments, for the good of all, today?

 

Prayer: Precious Light of the world, shine Your love and righteousness into my heart, I pray. Amen