Walking in the dark can sometimes be dangerous. Many years ago, back when I was a teenager, I was going through a dark hallway late at night. I was feeling along the wall for a light switch, and went tumbling down a stairway. Fortunately I only suffered several bumps and bruises, and nothing worse. Having light would have spared me that fall. Not only can darkness be dangerous, but it is often used to portray evil. Movie directors sometimes use darkness to portray danger or give a sinister feeling. The Bible also speaks of darkness in portraying sin, such as being in spiritual darkness. That is what we will be reading about today from the Book of Ephesians.
Our Scripture passage today speaks of being in darkness versus being in light, spiritual darkness and being lost, versus spiritual light and being saved. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he reminded the folks in this church that they were once living in darkness. When we were unsaved, our life was one of darkness. Many of the believers who lived in Ephesus were involved in all manner of sin before they were saved, as that city had a history of being a center for occult practices. One does not have to be involved in terrible, heinous sins, though, to be in darkness. Just being unsaved places us in the kingdom of darkness, under Satan’s authority. However, as Paul stated, once these folks were saved, they were now in the light. They were now part of the kingdom of light, and Paul wanted them to behave like that, to walk like that (vs. 8). Darkness describes the character of the life of the unsaved person. They are void of truth and virtue, and do not have light in them. Jesus pointed out that sinners love the darkness (John 3:19-21).
All those who are believers, followers of Jesus, are children of the Light, and our actions should reflect our faith. We should live above reproach. Those who are saved, and who are walking in the light, will be walking in the Spirit, and will show righteous behavior and truthfulness (vs. 9). We now have the light, and do not need to stumble around in the darkness of sin anymore. When someone is walking through a room that is dark, they can’t see something on the floor that could trip them, and down they go. They fall and get hurt. With the spiritual light we now have through Jesus, we don’t need to fall into the trap of sin anymore, either. As we walk in the light of the truth, we will know what the Lord’s will is, what is acceptable to Him, and we can follow that path, rather than one that leads to danger (vs. 10).
As Paul continued on in his instructions to the Ephesians, he warned these believers to not have anything to do with those who continue to live in darkness (vs. 11). They are to live in righteousness and purity, and have nothing to do with the evil ways and works of Satan and the world. God’s ways and Satan’s ways are opposed to each other. Just as a country does not like its citizens, and especially its soldiers or members of the government to fraternize and associate with the enemy, neither should believers, those who are in the light, consort with those who are part of the kingdom of darkness. Instead, we are to expose what they are doing as evil, especially when they try to infiltrate the church with their evil beliefs and doctrines. God needs people who will take a stand for what is right, and who will speak out for what is true and right.
As we look around the world today, it isn’t that difficult to see that sin is becoming more rampant, and more out in the open with no shame whatsoever. Things that would barely even be spoken of in hushed whispers back when I was young, are now openly flaunted in our face. Today, even some Christians just turn a blind eye and have begun to become desensitized. There are some sins that are so despicable that they shouldn’t even be talked about, except to oppose them (vs. 12). Even talking about them can be morally and spiritually corruptive. However, the light of God’s Word will expose sin (vs. 13).
As our Scripture passage closes, Paul gives an invitation for salvation to the unsaved, so that they can be transformed from children of darkness to children of light (vs. 14). It is also an encouragement for believers who have slacked off in their walk with the Lord, to wake up and to start living as those who are in the light. As Jesus taught in Matthew 5:14-16, believers are to be a light to others, leading the lost safely out of darkness. Christians should be beacons of light to the dark world, showing the way to spiritual safety for all those who are lost.
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