In The Light?

I saw an automobile sneak through a red light at the end of a yellow at the same time that a bike blew through the red without slowing. The bike was going straight and the car was turning left, and they collided. The car was barely moving and, fortunately, the woman on the bike was not hurt…but she was mad! She jumped up and ripped her helmet off, and with bike in tow, ran after the car and screamed at the driver.

I asked Junior, “What is she so mad about? She ran the red light! You’d think someone on a bike would know better than to ride out into oncoming traffic.” He responded, “Yeah, but that’s how people are; they are always sure they are in the right, even when they are obviously not.”

True. And in fact, I’m no exception. Studies show that when people are interviewed and describe an event, the person being interviewed will slant the story to put themselves in better light. It’s human nature to want others to think better of us. But that is also a barrier to overcoming our problems. You can’t defeat an issue you don’t acknowledge.

Both Old and New Testaments speak of “Walking in the light” (Psalm 89:15, 1 John 1:7), which means just that: living in open exposure before God, instead of hiding who we really are. Once we are open about who we are — showing openness for truth with a mindset for change — we are then able to take the steps necessary for overcoming the problem. But without that vulnerability, no substantive change can take place.

When I was in college, a friend said to me, “Scott, you are too negative. I need to stop hanging out with you. You are rubbing off on me and I get critical when we’re together.” That made me mad! How dare he! Within a few minutes, I had all the best responses ready in my mind. It wasn’t until later that evening when I was reading my Bible, that the truth of his stinging words struck home. It led me on a journey that helped change my outlook and disposition. I have my friend, Bob, to thank for that.

Are you still in denial about your anger, selfishness, prejudice, immorality, resentment, addictions, worry, or laziness? The first step to overcoming it is to open yourself up to what God wants to teach you and to let those closest to you identify the areas that can and should be changed.

“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NIV).