“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
Dear Ones:
When John the Apostle wrote his Gospel, he declared that eternal life was, “…that they might KNOW Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (Jn. 17:3) Out of the knowledge of God comes true service for Him. One thing that is essential to realize about this knowledge of God, personal knowledge, is that it comes about in, and from, fellowship with Him. What does this mean? It is true that one is called to walk with Christ, before Christ, and by Christ. It is also true that one is called to wait upon Him to speak to the heart, and to respond to His voice. But there is another, and yet, all-encompassing characteristic of this fellowship, or communion, that we are called to grasp. It is that of Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. It is that of the Spirit of Christ IN US. The Lord Jesus, by the Apostle John’s words, declared: “Abide in Me, and I IN YOU.” (Jn. 15:4) From the day of Pentecost to this very day, the great reality of Christianity resides in this: we are called to live by, dwell in, and depend upon the Spirit of Christ for all things. We are NOT to see ourselves separate, or apart from Him. Christ has become our life.
In going back to John’s letter, he speaks of true fellowship with the Father, and with His Son, the Lord Jesus. He speaks of that which we need to know so that this is our individual experience. “This is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn. 1:5) He goes on to say that it is possible to walk in darkness. He is referring to believing lies, and being deceived. To not walk in the truth of God that we know, is to choose to walk in that which is false, professing a “fellowship” which is not true. If we entertain this “darkness,” allowing this cloud to come between us and the Lord, we can be sure that we will NOT have fellowship with Christ. Though we do not forfeit His blessed presence, we do forfeit His blessing, and the experience of the victory that is in Him.
When Joshua led the people of Israel into the promised land, they went up to conquer Ai. What should have been an easy victory after that of Jericho, resulted in a defeat. The reason was because “darkness” had entered the congregation. Though the Lord was still with them, His blessing of victory was not manifested. Achan, a member of the congregation had stolen that which was specifically forbidden. In another example, Samson, after disclosing to Delilah the secret of his God-given strength, learned very quickly that the Lord’s strength had been withdrawn from him. He quickly became the prisoner of his enemies, because “darkness,” the lie, had been embraced. Likewise the Christian, if he or she chooses to live a lie, and not walk according to the light of truth, the blessing of God of Christ’s victory will not be revealed. Though the Lord’s presence is promised, His blessing and power of the victorious like, born out of true fellowship with Christ, will not be revealed. To walk in the light is to walk in the truth with a clear conscience before God. Then we shall know fellowship with the Father and the Son in Spirit and truth.
Dear Father, give us grace to keep very short accounts with Thee. Help us to recognize darkness, the lie, or the temptation, and give us grace to rise above all that would militate against the knowledge of Thee. Keep us in fellowship with Thyself with NO cloud between. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad