FROM FUTILITY TO ETERNITY
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Futility is the viewpoint that no matter what you do, it will make no difference. Therefore what you do is meaningless. And since what you do is meaningless, you might as well give free rein to whatever you want and like. And so, “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”
This works both ways. If your choices and your behaviour are basically self-indulgent, destructive and focused on self interest, then futility is still dominant in your thinking. Paul implies here—”They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts”—that when we dwell in the negative and destructive then we are separated from the life of God and that will also darken our minds and harden our hearts, because when we dwell in the negative, we are giving the devil a foothold.
But when you become a Christian you are saying that you do not believe that life is futile; you believe in God, in truth and in eternity. Such a fundamental shift in worldview must mean a fundamental shift in behaviour and life choices.
You abandon the negative and destructive forces in your life—bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice—and the self-indulgent behaviours—indolence, temper, stealing, unproductive lifestyle—because now what you do makes a difference. Instead you embrace the example of the Lord—”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” and “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”—and the example of God—”Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love”.
Because God is real, because Christ has saved you by sacrificing himself for you, you can choose to live in the positive and know it makes a difference. Truth, righteousness, holiness, generosity, productive life and constructive words, compassion, kindness, forgiveness—all these are deeply rich and meaningful.
You were taught … to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.