Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 250

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Living In Christ – 11

LIVING IN THE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-14
(8)  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
(9)  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
(10)  proving what is acceptable to the Lord.
(11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
(12)  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
(13)  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
(14)  Therefore he says, "Awake, sleeping ones! And arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

Christians are en-light-ened ones.  We are “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8), we are “children of light” (Eph 5;8, 1 Thessalonians 5:5) our inheritance is “with the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12,13) and we are even the light of the world (Matthew 5:14,15). We are to put on an armor of light”. (Romans 13:12) and walk in the light (1 John 1:7). 

In spiritual terms “light” is the pure, the positive and the good “for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth”.  

God is all light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. This does not just mean that there is no evil in God, but also that there is nothing dark or negative, no grumbling, no pettiness, no fits of temper or petulance. God is completely positive and good throughout all His being. And He wants us also to be like that.

Light also exposes and reveals and makes manifest. This is the sense that it is used here in Ephesians. We are to expose dark deeds and rebuke them, uprooting evil from our midst, not brushing it under the carpet.
(11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
(12)  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
(13)  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Certain sins are often “covered up” in churches – financial dishonesty, sexual molestation, and clerical adultery. While these things do need to be handled sensitively and not broadcast to the media, they should be exposed, brought into the light, and handled fairly and appropriately through the correct channels.

Light also denotes moral vigor. The light shines, the light bursts forth, the light is pure and strong and good. When we live in the light we do not live in the weak grey world of deceptions, moral compromises, fibs, and excuses, rather we live boldly in a straightforward and holy lifestyle.

Living in such a bold and straightforward and truthful way is not always appreciated by those around us. Jesus lived in the light and was rejected for it!

John 3:19-21
(19)  And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.
(20)  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
(21)  But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God.

Paul picks up on this when he says that those who live in the light go around “proving (dokimazo – testing, discerning) what is acceptable to the Lord”. That is they live their lives out in the open before men and God that it may be obvious that their works have been “wrought in God”. They are holy and transparent people.

Living in the light does not mean being indiscreet. We are still to be wise about what we say and to whom we say it. But it does indicate a bias towards openness and away from secrecy. We especially to avoid those who do sinful things in secret, who hide under a cloak of respectability, and who live double lives and revel in shameful deeds. (verses 11,12 above)

Some Christians are asleep in the twilight zone of sin and compromise, lacking moral vigor, stumbling, unconscious of both themselves and God. To these Paul speaks a strong word: 
14)  Therefore he says, "Awake, sleeping ones! And arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

Many Christians need to wake up -  to themselves, to a holy God, to the glory of the spiritual life, and to their moral responsibilities. This verse strongly implies that we have a clear choice, we can wake up, we can decide to stop dozing away our lives and we can choose to open our eyes and take a good hard look at ourselves “in the light of day”. 

If we decide to take God, our spiritual lives and our moral responsibilities seriously “Christ will give you light”. God will give us more guidance, more love, more grace as we proceed down the path of living “awakened” lives.

To live a straightforward and holy life is both costly and unusual. But it is glorious and good and joyful.  Those who live in the light can sleep well at night and look themselves in the mirror, and have no fear of the policeman or the taxman. Their life can stand inspection and their good works are obvious and bring glory to God. Such a person puts away dark passions, mutterings, murmurings, jealousies and hatred and lives in peace.  In the end they are at rest, and know the light of eternity.

Blessings,

John Edmiston johned@aibi.ph

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