Have you ever seen a toddler shut her eyes and think that as a result you can’t see her? She doesn’t understand.
Our culture is obsessed with perversion. It makes money because there’s a market for it. There’s a market for it because we are warped people who do not fear God. We do not fear God because we do not know Him. We do not know Him because we have pushed Him away, closed our eyes, and wished He wasn’t real.
Paul’s message in Ephesians 5 is a reality check. I don’t like talking about it or thinking about it, but Scripture doesn’t shy away from tough topics like I do.
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”
Ephesians 5:3-14 ESV
Just before this hotly controversial section in the Word, we were told to be imitators of God because we are beloved children. We are to love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. We are to be an aroma of pleasing sacrifice. On our own, we are far from it. It amazes me how Jesus chose to cover me, to give Himself as a sacrifice for me. Now God sees me through the lens of Christ. No matter the darkness of my past, I am now a child of light!
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11 ESV) The context is convicting, but the grace offered and received in the end is overwhelming!
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
There are reminders of our past throughout scripture and with them come the glories of God’s grace!
“Again the apostle’s command is, ‘Be what you are. You have become light. You are children of light, those whose very nature is light.’ They are to pursue their daily lives in accordance with this new nature given to them in Christ, and to express this most effectively the apostle once again uses the word walk (see on 2:2). In the light that illuminates the pathway of God’s will, and with light in their hearts, and radiating forth from their lives, they are to go on life’s journey.[1]”
This week I saw four moons beside Jupiter. I’ve never seen them before. A friend showed me this splendor in the sky using a telescope. The moons have been there. Science class might have taught me about them, but this week I saw them for the first time. There are gifts of God that He longs to reveal to us. Let’s take the time to look.
A Prayer
Lord God, thank You for changing me! I do not deserve the grace you have covered me with. I am your servant. Please help me to live in Your light and understand that now I am light in the Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Questions to Ponder
How has God's presence intimidated you?
Where have you found God's grace?
Are there people in your life right now that you share His grace, truth, and love with?
Works Cited
The Bible
Foulkes, F. (1989). Ephesians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 10, p. 150). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
