Good Company Corrupts Wrong Behavior

I concur that in a dispensation of biblical literacy and proliferation there are somewhat quite a number of enemies to sound and accurate biblical interpretation and explanation. One in particular that stands out for me which many of us if not all become prone to is the mistake of viewing scriptures through the lens of our own emotions or dispositions to a particular matter or situation. The erroneous attempt to bring exegeses to a text or verses of scripture by casting it within the framework of our own predicaments is what leads many of us to read unqualified meanings into texts that woefully fails to bring their original meaning to light.

For instance, in an attempt to capture the intent and meaning of (1 John 1:5) which explains God as a personality of light in whom there is no form of darkness or whatsoever, any bible reader may be tempted to infer quite a number of conclusions to the text if he or she is going through a phase of mishap or pain that they may refer to as a season of darkness. This version of interpretation will proceed to point out something in line with the idea that since God is light, I am not permitted in any sense as a believer to go through any mishap, negative situation or problem that appears to speak of darkness. In essence, the verse would have to teach that I am problem free because God is problem free.

Any simple Joe will pick on this exegeses and say that’s some deep stuff. As far as the east is from the west is how this verse is from the truth it’s intended to portray.The full import of the text can really be understood by examining it together with the proceeding verses (6 & 7) which will help us to understand the title of this article in the first place. John the revelator in this portion of his writing particularly verses(5) of 1 John attempts to help us to understand that God is intrinsically so holy and pure that His holiness by nature does not entertain anything other than that which is pure.

One must understand that the substance of what is unholy or dark only takes its shape in the absence of light. So in reality, darkness is not exclusive in itself in that it can only exist because light is absent. Pivoting on this theme, we can now grasp further the point John is trying to drive in which is the fact that as people we often will tend to think that in order to be saved or to be pleasurable to God we must maintain a certain kind of holy standard or living before we can finally come to Him. We have this ''I need to be clean before I come to Him'' mentality which in the end rather draws us further away from Him because our righteousness will forever remain as dirty rags before God(Isaiah 64:6).

John proposes a better way to this confusion in the verses (7) of (1 John) by employing the sinner to begin to walk in the light that he has received. The word walk is the Greek word (peripateō) which means to live or to make progress. In so doing(peripateō) the sinner even though riddled with sin and iniquity begins to keep company with the light which is God. As the sinner continues to keep company with the light according to John the sinner unknowingly begins to have fellowship which is the Greek word (koinonia) referring to an intercourse or joint participation that occurs between two differing persons with one party at the end taking on the form and nature of the other.

John here is saying, the very moment we come to accept the light and choose to take meaningful steps in that light, in no time we begin to mimic the nature of the light which is the nature of purity and holiness engulfing our minds and heart. It’s no longer us trying to be clean, it is the light making us clean through the agency of the blood of Jesus. Just like an evil company corrupts good behavior(1 Corinthians 15:33) I put forward boldly just like Apostle John that good company or fellowship with the light of God's word and His person has the potential to alter any sinful person into the full expression of righteousness whether in deed or at heart.

The gospel of John (chapter 1) verses (5) declares that as long as the light continues to shine darkness will have no power over us . This is our confidence. Our duty is to partner with the light , to commune with the light and keep company with light regardless of how sin has taken root in us. We must learn to not lean on our own righteousness but on the light. The light is where the power of change is hidden that’s why Habakkuk 3:4 says "And his brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of his hand: And there was the hiding of his power." Our uprightness is domiciled within His light. Do not in any way be burdened by the weight of your own inefficiencies and faults. If there’s anything I've learnt in my own past addictions and weaknesses it’s to keep walking in the light. Every time I had spent walking out of the light attempting to carry the burden of my own sin and error I had fallen heavily. It’s impossible! A journey of walking and fellowshipping in and with the light awaits you today.