"Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:7-11)We are never without the message of God. Even creation itself speaks forth His message. David reminds us, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4 NIV) God's word is always around us, speaking to us, telling us of the greatness of God. Along with creation, we also have His written word contained in stories of long ago and prophesies of times to come. As we journey deeper and deeper into Jesus, we discover not newer revelations but rather clearer understanding of what has been said and shown before. As we live with Christ, we look not for something new but for an understanding of something old. God never changes, but our understanding and acknowledgement of Him grow as we grow in Him. Jesus' light has shined within us, and this light illuminates the word of God and gives life to us through a greater understanding of God, His will, and His word.
If light is understanding, then darkness is its opposite. If understanding brings life, then darkness only death. God is a god of love and love bring to us the light of understanding. However, darkness has nothing in common with God and it darkens our understanding and obscures our way. When we hate those around us, our hatred crowds our the love of God in our minds and displaces the light of God with the darkness of self-love. We cannot hate and claim enlightenment; we cannot hate and claim the knowledge of God nor the love of God perfected within us. We are either full of light and love or of darkness and hate.
Hatred is as a cloud that darkens our understanding. While we might still conciser ourselves keen and sharp, our hatred has blinded us and has deceived us; telling us we see and know when in reality we have become blind and ignorant. Hatred causes us to do and say things we would would normally not do. Hatred causes us to turn from our normal course of life to lead us down a path whose end we do not perceive. Hatred darkens our mind and our understanding and causes us to stumble in the way.
We must break free from our deception; that we can hate and still successfully navigate through life. Hatred will lead to death and only the love of God can restore us to the right way. We must proceed no further towards destruction. Rather we must stop and repent that the darkness may be taken away and that we might see the path of light clearly and to rejoin Christ along His way.
David Robison
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