Therefore, do not become partners with them [sons of disobedience]; for at one time, you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...
Ephesians 5:7-8 [ESV]
Paul reminds us again that our lives are not to look like those of the world, nor are we to share in the practices of the world [sons of disobedience]. This was a world that we had once belonged. A world that was our normal but fruitless place. There is a distinction about living like those in the world but it does not mean, be withdrawn from the world in terms of engaging with others as the Great Commision makes clear. What Paul is calling out is to leave behind their immoral actions, not partaking in the same things that take place in the world. There is a scholar named Thielman who says it this way:
‘Paul’s point here is that fully participating in the worldview and conduct of unbelievers in matters of sex and money is incompatible with membership in the people of God.’
Thielman
So, what is the reason for this separation? It is the core change of association believers now possess. Darkness was our way of life – a metaphor for the presence and power of sin and moral failure that does not illuminate life, but obscures ‘the way’. To be in and of the dark, is as good as being blind.
But! Things have changed! Contrary to darkness, Light pictures an illuminated way of life, where the path of how to live is clear. The metaphor of light is rooted in the Old Testament.
Send out your light and your truth;
Psalms 43:3 [ESV]
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
The light of life is found in the Lord! If the Lord Himself is pure light, then we walk as children of the Father to Whom we belong. Once again, a deep sense of identity and self-understanding about who we are is to drive our decisions and responses. We have now had 4 ‘Walks’ -> 4:1 [Walk worth of the calling], 4:17 [Do not walk as the Gentiles], 5:2 [Walk in Love], and finally 5:8 [Walk as children of the light].
Application:
Darkness is the way in which the ‘Old Man’ walked. I am now a ‘Child of Light’ who walks in the way of His Father…just read that again… Am I walking as a Child of Light in all that I do? Is my focus on the path God is lighting before me, or am I enticed by what is seen on the broad way of destruction. I can tell you right now that the evil of this world is all around us; it is conniving, sneaky, creative, and cruel. It wants nothing more than to extinguish the light of my path. I have to be on guard every day and night…never allowing any temptation to be entertained in any way. The slope is slippery and we as believers cannot give an inch. Although our Gracious God stands with new grace every morning, we cannot have an attitude of pre-decision grabbing of grace before the fact; this is grievous to the Holy Spirit. Lord, hold me strong in my weakness!
Today’s Psalm:
“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Psalms 39:12 [ESV]
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
a guest, like all my fathers.