TAKING A WALK ON THE LIGHT SIDE EPHESIANS 5:8-14

INTRODUCTION

It was the late 1960’s and my dad had just bought me a little popup tent. We were living on Bunce Road on the other side of Fayetteville. I had waited long enough and asked dad if he would set the tent up for me in the backyard. This my father gladly did for me. I was so excited to see that little tent up and ready for occupancy. I couldn’t wait until that evening because I had decided that I was going to spend the night in that tent. I seemed like an eternity for supper to be over with and the sun did not seem that it would ever set. Finally, dusk had come and I began to take all of my things to the tent. I remember taking several trips back and forth from the house to the tent. I finally settled in after my parents told me good night.

Everything was going fine and I was enjoying being out in the tent all by myself. My dog Whimper even joined me for a while. Then the lights went out from the back of the house and I was the one who began to Whimper. When the lights went out the dog ran to the house, leaving me all alone in the dark. Then I screamed DADDY at the top of my voice several times, while the tears ran down my checks. Suddenly the lights came on and I ran all the way to the house leaving everything, including my favorite stuffed toy in the tent. I ran into the house, down the hallway, jumped in the bed, pulled the covers over my head as I exclaimed, “Daddy, make sure you leave the hallway light on!” That was my first and last adventure in a tent until I graduated seminary. Don’t judge me.

I invite you to take a walk on the light side today as we examine five characteristics of walking and living in the light of Jesus Christ.

I. WE ARE TO WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (5:8)

The first thing we observe is our past condition (8a).

We were darkness. It does not say that we were merely in darkness; we were darkness itself. We were spiritual and moral darkness. In this condition we served all sorts of ungodly lusts and desires. That was our previous condition.

Now we take note of our present condition (8b).

We were darkness but now we are light in the Lord. We are not merely living in the light, we are light because of Jesus Christ. It is because of salvation only through Jesus Christ that we are the light of the world. This is only possible because He abides in us and we abide in Him.

Therefore, we are to walk as those who have come to the light of Jesus Christ. We are to behave and conduct ourselves as children of light. The phrase “children of light” is interesting. It was an idiom that was familiar to the original hearers, especially those of a Jewish audience. It was a way of expressing a person’s character or destiny. The term children in this phrase is not the form term sons, but the more intimate term used of a beloved family member.

We are able as believers to remember a time when we were darkness. However, it is impossible for a spiritually lost person to remember a time when they were light. This is because they have never experienced the ultimate light. That is why our spiritual walk is so important. The walk of a Christian should reflect the truth that he is now enlightened (brought into the light of truth), no longer walking in spiritual darkness.

This truth is why Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit these words in Romans 13:13-14

Romans 13:13–14 CSB

Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

As children of light, the world needs to see that we are free, willing, and rational servants of the Most High God, not brutish followers of the devil.

Not only are we to walk as children of light, there is a second thing we should observe.

II. WE ARE TO WALK AS FRUIT OF LIGHT (5:9)

Your translation might read “fruit of the Spirit” rather than “fruit of the light.” That is nothing to get upset over. The phrase “fruit of the light” is used in most good translations because it comes from an older (and I believe a more reliable) manuscript. It is unusual for us because we are used to “fruit of the Spirit.” There are three results or fruits of walking as children of the light.

Goodness

This is the general term for moral excellence. This is the moral quality that is found in all who have a genuine personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

2. Righteousness

Righteousness is that virtue that operates with just integrity and displaying it before God and mankind. It is the quality of being and conducting oneself right. The old English form of this word was spelled “rightwiseness.” This term clearly expressed the true meaning of the word. This is why a true Christian will render those things that belong to God.

3. Truth

The realm of truth concerns the areas of honesty, equity, and reality. To live contrary to truth is to live life according to one’s opinions, experiences, and emotions. To live by the truth means to live by the truth in every form and every way. We are to reverence the truth. We are to speak the truth. We are to act according to the truth. We are to hope and rejoice in the truth. Thus, we are to live sincerely and honestly in the truth.

Putting goodness, righteousness, and truth together, what we have if the life of Christ in us shining out in the midst of moral and spiritual darkness.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

When the world picks on you, just what do they pick?

III. WE ARE TO WALK PASSING THE TEST OF LIGHT (5:10)

The person who is walking as a child of light and producing the spiritual fruit (results) of light must ask himself a question regarding every decision. What does Jesus think about this? What does God’s Word say about this? We are to approve what God would approve. Every word, thought, and action is to be put to this test.

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Every area of our lives must be examined under the scrutiny of the Word of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ.

IV. WE ARE TO WALK MANIFESTING THE POWER OF LIGHT (5:11-13)

It is not enough to walk as children of the light, to bear fruit of the light, and pass the test of the light. Believers must also manifest the power of the light by standing against the darkness. First, we are not to partner up with the unfruitful works of darkness. We are not to share in what the unrighteous partake in. Rather, our responsibility is to expose those deeds of darkness. The word expose here literally means “to bring to light.” Thus, we reprove or rebuke the works of darkness by shining the light of Jesus on such darkness. The results of living in spiritual darkness are shame, remorse, and despair. These things are to be countered by the children of the light with all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Why (12)? “For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.” You see, the genuine nature of a Christian lived out in holiness will reveal the vileness of the sinful depravity of the deeds of darkness. That is the nature of the children of light: to expose the darkness (13). Our lives lived out in the truth of the gospel ought to punch holes in the darkness.

V. WE ARE TO ACCEPT AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF LIGHT (5:14)

It appears that this last verse of the text is written in the form of a command, and it is. However, it seems to be a divine invitation that commands us to do something. We are invited to “wake up.” Those who morally asleep must wake up. Second, we are called, commanded, and invited to arise. Those who are spiritually dead are to arise from their spiritual graves. This is the condition of the unsaved. They are spiritually dead. God invites but at the same time commands people to respond to the call of salvation in the moment He is calling. Get up you who are living for the devil and come to Christ. When we respond, we are promised that Christ will give us His light to live as children of His light. For the lost, this means salvation, a real relationship with the real God who created physical light because He Himself is light. For the redeemed, the children of light, this means that we cannot be still as if we are asleep or dead. Rather, it means that we are active. We are to make use of the light that we have been given and go light the world.

CONCLUSION

Way back in the late summer and early fall of 1984, Elaine and I sent out invitations to share in the joy as we prepared to covenant with God and each other to love and honor Him in our marriage. We have strived to do that going on forty years now. We have not done it perfectly, but our desire was to love and serve God together. Similarly, God has sent out the invitation to the upcoming marriage supper of the Lamb. Will you accept it or reject it. Will you walk as a child of the light or continue to stumble in the darkness?