but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 1 John 1:7 AMP
The Context and Focus:
John, the Beloved, was one of the disciples of Jesus, so he knew and experienced firsthand what it meant to follow Jesus. He saw the miracles he did, and he was also at the cross as Jesus died for the sin of the world, including his. Nothing beats personal experience, because it is the strongest message with the biggest impact. Men can speak of what they read from a book, but there is a depth to what I have seen with my own eyes, touched with my own hands, heard with my own ears, and tasted with my own mouth. When it is time to testify about it, I don't have to rely on another person's story; I have my own. Have you personally experienced the power of Jesus to save, heal and deliver? Is He your Saviour, Master and Lord, or do you have other competing interests and allegiance? It has to be noted here and now that walking with Jesus has to involve total dedication to Jesus, with the total exclusion of anything and anyone else.
The Message:
That is why the verse above lays emphasis on walking in the light. It matters where you walk, and who you walk with. In fact, in this context, the One you walk with defines your entire life and its impact. There is a choice to be made, and as it has been emphasized several times, God does not go against the exercise of my freewill. There are many things God can do; in fact, the bible says so clearly that with God, nothing is impossible, yet, God allows me to decide if I want to walk with Him. He tells me what I stand to gain if I walk with Him, and he also tells me what I stand to lose if I don't. He is that honest and true, because he does not want to compel my allegiance out of a sense of duty, but from a heart of love. If I choose to love him of my own freewill, I will be quick to serve, to work for Him, to make impact in the world I have been planted, and to take directions from Him every step of the way. Walking in the light is walking with Jesus, because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Walking in the light means fellowship with the Light and with all who also walk in the light.
The Conclusion:
All over the world, Jesus has followers, and we are all bound by common ownership. The blood of Jesus has done its work in us, and we are free from the nature and consequence of sin. The power of blood is that it makes those who are connected by it to be related, and members of the same family. No matter the location or the situation, our common faith and the blood make us related. This walking is not a one-off, or an occasional engagement, but a lifestyle. This walk will reflect in all I do, say, or think, and even how I relate with other people. See the vertical and the horizontal impact: God is glorified as I walk with Him, and His presence in me is also seen by the world around me. The fellowship is unbroken, because the blood does not go on leave, and it is never out of fashion. It is valid for all time, so it is never too late for all who are alive today and who want to come in. However, it has to be noted that there is a time frame for this experience. You can only access these benefits when you are alive. Physical death or the return of Jesus is the end of that grace. Make the best of the gift that has been given for free. The price for rejection is too high to contemplate. God's time of favour is here.
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