Darkness of Hate or Love of the Light?

1 John 2:9-11 

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Walking in the true Light of the world means we leave the darkness of hate of our brothers in all its forms.  Prejudice, malice, violence, insults, exclusion, and all other bigotry and evil thoughts and words are the tools and culture of fallen man following the father of lies, the one who has come to kill and destroy instead of bringing life and reconciling peace.  Jesus Christ brings such peace with God and therefore also peace with one another in the light of His word, of which He is.  We live in Him as light by the light of His grace, mercy, and love; we must then be living in Him and not resurrecting the old man of sin.  No, we rather look forward to a resurrection of a sinless and immortal body of incorruption, and begin to march toward that end of life’s race who is our perfect Savior and brother.  If we do not put our feet in His footsteps along this way, but choose to wander off into the wild woods of this present darkness, we stumble in blindness as those who are lost.  Ah, but we who are redeemed look for the light that opened our eyes to better things, and know where we are going because we follow in our Master’s footsteps.  We love Him and others because He first loved us.