CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Ephesians 5
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Paul tells us that as Christians, our identity is now associated with light. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord”, he declares. He associates darkness with immorality, impurity and greed and tells us that people who surround themselves with darkness are idolaters, in the sense that they worship a false god. Finally he tells us that the deeds of darkness are fruitless and cause shame; when we are in the grip of darkness it is as if we are drunk on wine—losing our inhibitions and letting our human emotions and human drives dominate. This is debauchery.
The Christian solution is to let the light shine. Paul tells us that “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth”. What is the light that he speaks of? We can think of light as exposure, as in living a life completely naked, with nothing to hide. As Paul tells us, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” However the next line “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” suggests to us that Paul has something else in mind.
Perhaps he means the Word but I think the best fit is to consider the Spirit as the light because of the call by Paul for us to “be filled with the Spirit”. All of us who follow Jesus receive the Holy Spirit as God’s gift and guarantee of our salvation. However along the way our lifestyle and choices may restrict his impact on our lives and spirit. We need to live lives that will allow the Spirit free rein and free flow and that is a life that is consonant with the will of God.
Ultimate it is the power of the Spirit in our lives that will enable us to make the transfer from darkness to light. Only with his power can a leopard change its spots. As Paul goes on to tell us, when we consistently enjoy the full flow of the Spirit because we choose to live in accordance with the will of God, our lives will be a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that will resonate with joy, worship and thanksgiving.
“Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”