Psalm 37:6 English Standard Version (ESV) He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

John 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Genesis 1:4 English Standard Version (SEV) And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Light good, darkness separated from good. God did not declare darkness bad but rather separate from good. In the psalm light is connected to justice, the ability to see things for what they truly are because no one can hide from the light. Darkness cannot prevail.

Black has come to represent negative judgment, a convicting judgment simply because nothing can be found in darkness.

When we see everything in black and white, it means we are judgmental. There are no gray areas. Things are either right or wrong. Sin is not a matter of judgment, it is an act. Actions have consequences no matter if they are just or sinful. Good acts render good results, sin has the opposite effect. 

Here is the problem with seeing everything in black and white, it has nothing to do with how we act.

Romans 7:15 English Standard Version (ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Judgment is a function of the mind but does not rule the heart. Judgment does not always choose to do what is right. There is more at stake here than right and wrong. It is the struggle between flesh and spirit for the control of acts. Living a life of faith begins with hearing what we are asked to do without judging what is asked of us. Judgment can only interfere with faith.

Romans 7:24-25 English Standard Version

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

If that is confusing, know that you are not alone.

John 3:19-21 English Standard Version

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

If we seek to discover what to judge then the scriptures make it plain to understand. Something important needs a simple understanding to get all of our concerns answered. Here John makes it plain as day, “this is the judgment”.

The third chapter of John is loaded with extremely important information. From the moment that Nicoldemus comes to Jesus until the secret to eternal life in verse 36, it has been made perfectly clear what is important to God and how He has planned to achieve His will.

Taking everything we have learned about God and His ways, our spiritual eyes and ears are able to judge when God is at work in front of us.

1 Corinthians 10:27 English Standard Version (ESV) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

We will find ourselves developing relationships with unbelievers and in doing so, we must not judge their motives but to use the opportunity to see into their lives and discover if God has touched some part of their lives that will welcome the true light. Judge if God is at work in their lives rather than what they do.

Colossians 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Remember who you represent.