Although there are many things that I don’t like in this life, but one of those things is being alone in the dark. Just the thought of being in the dark scares me. You’re all alone and there’s no one there with you except you and your thoughts. What’s interesting to see is when you light a candle or light up a small flashlight in the midst of the dark, the small room isn’t dark anymore. That small amount of light is able to cast away the darkness. That’s how powerful light is. A small amount of light is so powerful that it can light up the entire room. Let me explain about how powerful God’s light is. God’s light is so powerful that it will cast away or remove the darkness from not only within our lives but also within the world. What we need to do is to be a vessel for the light of Christ to be shown through us. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus goes on to say, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (NASB95 Translation). In Ephesians 5:1, Paul reminds us to be “imitators of God.” In other words, we need to be Christ-like because we are His children.
In today’s passage from Ephesians 4:17-32, Paul reminds us how we need to be living as children of light. In other words, we need to be vessels of light so that the world will no longer be in the dark. We need to let people be in the know about Christ. I want to be in the know. I like what verses 21-24 says. The Bible reads: “21. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22. throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.” This is very familiar to what Paul wrote to the church of Corinth in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where he says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Both of these passages are saying that we need to put away the old self because we are renewed by Jesus Christ. It’s so important for us, as students of the Bible, to have an understanding of what it means to put off the old self. When we are baptized into the possession of Christ, that means that the old self is no longer in effect and the new life is beginning. When it comes to baptism, there’s nothing significant about the water. It’s an act of obedience. As I have said before, something has happened within you that you want to publicly share with others. One pastor said it like this: It’s an outward expression of an inward experience. My two challenges to you is this: 1. Surrender yourself to the Lord. We have been pulled in multiple directions from the culture. Because we are being pulled, there’s the possibility of being conformed. Don’t let it happen. Romans 12:2 says to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 2. Take some time for self-examination. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” Take some time and see where you are at in your spiritual walk with the Lord.
Ephesians 4:17-24 (NLT)
Living as Children of Light
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.as your Father in heaven is perfect.