Truths for Young Christians: Walking, Part 2

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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• BibleTruthPublishers.com
Walking in the light.
Taking light first, we find that all believers walk in the light (1 John 1:6, 76If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:6‑7)), but often they do not walk according to it (Eph. 5:88For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8)); that is to say, being brought out of darkness into His marvelous light, we are set in a position where no darkness affords an excuse for stumbling. The twilight is passed, we stand in the full blaze of the gospel day. Hence the exhortation in Ephesians is to walk according to the sphere in which we are set. When a Christian sins, therefore, it is not in darkness, but in and against the light, so that we are without excuse. But light is not merely a question of position; from it flow several important qualities of the Christian walk. Righteousness, holiness, truth, purity, are all fruits of light (Eph. 5:99(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:9) N.T.), and of cardinal value in the Christian life.
Fruits of Light
Righteousness is divine light applied to the affairs of daily life, holiness is divine light applied to the life with God, truth is divine light ruling my words, purity, divine light ruling myself (1 John 3:33And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)). We have already considered the question of a righteous walk in 1 Thess. 4, and that of a holy or sanctified walk in 1 Thess. 5; both of these, let us remember are directly connected with the Lord's return in Rev. 22. In 1 Thess. 3:1313To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13), holiness is connected with the Lord's return, but here, let us remark, it is inward "confirming of your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God." What a thought, a heart really consecrated to God, where He is first in all things, separated to Him. What a source this is for the holy walk that follows in the next verse (1 Thess. 4:11Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)).
Truth
“The lip of truth shall be established forever." But God "desires truth in the inward parts," and "walking in truth" (2 John 44I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. (2 John 4)) goes far beyond these words, all-important as they are. With regard to speaking the truth, one of our leading writers has expressed a very beautiful thought to the effect that we should so seek to speak that our words shall express exactly the fact, no more and no less; so that speaking like painting, shall become an art, which shall in the most appropriate word, instead of colors, lay the matter before the hearer. In the present day, especially, when exaggeration is so common, it is as singular as it is refreshing to find a Christian so weighing his words so as to be as accurate as a good picture. Is not our Lord's reply when asked who He was in John 8, a proof how perfectly true and transparent His words had ever been? "Altogether that which I also say to you." (N. T.) Surely the habit of consciously being in the light of God's presence greatly tends to this true speaking. But truth in the inward parts is what God requires, true to God, to myself and to others: to God, in all His word requires from me to myself, in really and truly being what I am, no more, no less, putting on no false appearances, not deceiving myself; true to others, not deceiving them, avoiding all hypocrisy. This true living is of all-importance to a young believer, as many things may tend to make him unreal. If he has learned quickly much spiritual truth, and yet not been brought very really into God's presence, he is so apt to desire to appear more than he really is, so prone to seek to be accredited for the truth he knows, rather than for the life he leads. The most dangerous position of all is when he has stepped into some right position before God without real exercise of conscience, and then supposes that the position entitles him at once to look down on others, and imagine himself far on in the school of God. Be severe with yourself, beloved reader; at all costs be truthful, underrate rather than overrate your spiritual state. This alone leads to a true and holier walk. Walking in the truth is different (2 John 11The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; (2 John 1)), and is accomplished by walking according to the revealed word of God. This, it is needless to say, is of all importance. No walk, however sincere can possibly be according to God that is not according to "the truth.”
(Continued and to be continued)