This past Sunday, using Ephesians 5:8-21, I spoke about walking as children of the light. We were made for MORE than stumbling in darkness and experiencing the pain that comes from that kind of existence. We were made to walk in the light and to transform the darkness around us.
I read this week that: Throughout history the world has faced two kinds of darkness–intellectual and moral. Intellectual darkness is ignorance–the inability to see and know the truth. Moral darkness is immorality–the inability to see and do what is right. This is the darkness Peter describes here–the sinful state of all unbelievers who are trapped in the spiritual darkness of Satan and ignorance of the truth. Just like Paul preached in Acts 26:18-“to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
We don’t want to live in ignorance or with an inability to do what is right, but we do when we walk in darkness. Let’s allow God to enlighten our hearts so that we live and walk in the light even as Jesus is in the light.
Verses 9-11 of Eph. 5 talk about the characteristics of the children of the light. When we are living in the light we are demonstrating goodness, righteousness and truth. When we are walking in the light we are living to please the Lord which means that we are choosing to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. What I understand from these verses is that we were not made to live like those who don’t know Christ, those who are dark in their spiritual understanding, those who don’t know or have rejected the things that please God. In other words, there should be a distinct difference, a day and night difference, a light and dark difference, if you will, between believers and unbelievers because
YOU WERE MADE TO EXHIBIT MORAL EXCELLENCE.
Eph. 5:11-Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Notice, that we aren’t commanded to live detached from the world, but different from the world. We are to not engage in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but we ARE to engage with the world in order to expose that the way they are living is the wrong way to live. We were made for more than just keeping our noses clean and minding our own business.
YOU WERE MADE TO EXPOSE THE DARK. Darkness is exposed as light comes on the scene.
Yes, you were called out of darkness in terms of the way you are living, but you are called into the darkness to shine the light of the truth of God so that others can see Him!
We aren’t called to sequester ourselves into a holy huddle and only engage with other Christians. If all of the light gathers in one place, the dark places will be even darker. We are to shine in the dark.
YOU WERE MADE TO SEIZE THE DAY.
Ephesians 5:15-16: 15 Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil
Live wisely. You can achieve greatness! You can leave a legacy! You can make an impact. Stay sober and alert. The end of our Ephesians passage talks about:
- Seeking God’s will
- Not being intoxicated and unable to think clearly
- Being filled with the Spirit
- Worshiping God
That is wise advice! Don’t give into anything that will make you lazy, hazy or crazy. Pursue what God is calling you to pursue. Every day, seek God’s will! Every day, live in such a way that you are exercising self-control. Every day, seek to be filled with the Spirit of God. Every day, worship God and spend time on your relationship with Him! It will open doors and create opportunity after opportunity after opportunity for you.
Make the most of today! Tomorrow isn’t promised. Who can you impact? What skill can you sharpen? What step forward can you take? What investment can you make in others and in your relationship with God? What have you been putting off that you can dive into today? What can be better in your life today? What can you stop doing and start doing differently today? You were made for increasingly more than what you are currently experiencing! Seize the day!
You were made to exhibit moral excellence. You were made to expose the dark. You were made to seize the day. Do you see a trifold expression of the light God has placed in you?
You were made to exhibit moral excellence-Glorify God
You were made to expose the dark-Help others
You were made to seize the day-Live your best possible life
Will you embrace the more for which you were created?
