"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light"  (Eph. 5:8).

Honesty is another Christian core value.  Jesus came and declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6a).  Jesus came to be the contrast in a sin-sick world. Jesus is clearly the truth, that sets a mark against all lying and untruth.  Jesus spoke and told the Pharisees that they were of their father the devil, who does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him (John 8:44a). John declares that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to show the contrast between the truth and the lie. Again, Jesus told the Pharisees that He spoke the truth, but they would not believe Him (John 8:45).  The would rather listen to the devil who is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44b).  Jesus said, "He who is of God hears God's words" (John 8:47).  If we are honest, then we will want to walk in truth.  Paul said, "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph. 4:24).

Jesus began His discussion that day with the Pharisees, saying, "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). This began with the contrast between light and darkness.  Paul tells us that the Father "has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance in the saints in the light" (Col. 1:13).  The Holy Spirit spoke the eternal word of salvation to us, and we were born again through the Spirit and the incorruptible Word of God (I Pet. 1:23).  At Spirit rebirthing, the Father "delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 2:13).  Jesus is the light of life.  Jesus' life is the light of men (John 1:4).  To know Jesus is to know genuine light.  Paul tells us that we "were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord" (Eph. 5:8).  Why are we light in the Lord?  We are light in the Lord, as we walk as children of light.  We should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but as light expose them (Eph. 5:11).  We don't want to be slothful, but awake and Christ will give us light (Eph. 5:14).  If we are honest, then we will want to walk in the light.

Honesty is letting Christ live in and through us as us.  Dishonesty is attempting to live a Christian life aside from Christ in us.  If we let Christ live in us as us, Christ will walk in truth in and through us.  If we let Christ live in us as us, Christ will walk in the light in and through us.  Darkness will be exposed.  Christ will live a life of purity in us as us, and impurity will not reign.  Honesty is yielding to Christ in us and letting Him be Lord of life, truth, light, and purity within us! V