June 21
“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil,” Ephesians 5:8-16.
All people have an unpleasant past, and that includes all Christians. Addressing the Ephesian Christians, the apostle Paul writes, “You were once darkness.” Earlier, he had told them the same thing: “We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others,” Ephesians 2:3.
Addressing the dispersed Christians who fled for the sake of their lives to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, the apostle Peter reminded them of their unpleasant, sinful past: “We have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries,” 1 Peter 4:3.
Those who once were in spiritual darkness are comforted with the words, “Now you are light in the Lord.” How did that change take place? It was by the power of the Holy Spirit, who touched the hearts of the hearers with the word of the Law and Gospel and called them to repentance and faith. To the Colossians, Paul wrote, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,” Colossians 1:13.
Non-Christians continue to walk and live in spiritual darkness without any hope for a life with the Lord in the halls of heaven. We who are Christians have been called out of darkness. Peter wrote, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” 1 Peter 2:9.
Now we are told, “Walk as children of light.” Live the Christian life. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” Out of a love for souls, we must expose the works of darkness and call people to repentance and invite them to believe on the Lord Jesus, God’s Son and the only Savior for sinners. The apostle calls upon us to be spiritually wide awake. Redeem the time; the days are evil. Take every opportunity that comes your way to witness about sin and the Savior. Seek to bring sinners out of spiritual darkness into the light of the Gospel, which shines with God’s love and the message of forgiveness through faith in Jesus, and promises life everlasting in the glory of heaven.
“Let none hear you idly saying,
‘There is nothing I can do,’
While the souls of men are dying,
And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly,
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when he calleth,
‘Here am I, send me, send me!’” Amen.