Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

                                     

Now that we are Christians, how shall we live? Paul addresses this issue in his Letter to the Ephesians. He mentions 6 walks – walk in good works (2:10), walk worthy of the vocation (4:1), walk not as other Gentiles walk (4:17), walk in love (5:2), walk as children of light (5:8), and walk circumspectly (5:15).

All those walks can be summarised in this one walk – walk as children of light. It goes without saying that children of light are people who walk in love, who are careful how they walk, and who walk not as the world walks.

What is so special about light? Well, light is opposed to darkness. The scripture says that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). So as believers, we are called to walk in the light of God (1 John 1:7).

Darkness is associated with evil deeds. Paul says that we are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (v.11). Our Lord says that the people of this world “loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:20).

As darkness represents evil, light represents all that is good. Paul reminds the Ephesians: "For you were once darkness" (v.8a). It was their former life before they became Christians. But now that they are Christians, they are to walk as children of light. The fruit of those who walk in the light can be seen in their lives: “for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (v.9, ASV). See a Christian who does good, is righteous and truthful - this Christian is walking in the light.

How does one walk in the light?

1. He does not associate with those who do wickedness (v.11; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Psalm 1:1).

2. He walks circumspectly (v.15). “Circumspect” comes from the Latin circirmspicio, meaning to look round about on all hands; to be every way watchful, wary, and cautious, in order to avoid danger. He is careful with how he walks – in thoughts, words, and deeds (Matthew 15:18-20).

3. He is not a time waster; he makes the best use of time (v.16).

4. He makes it his business to know the will of God (v.17; Psalm 1:2).

5. He stays away from wine (v.18). He knows the ill effects of the wine and knows the way to stay sober is to stay away from wine (Proverbs 20:1).

6. He is in the assembly of those who worship God (v.19). He knows the importance of congregational worship and praising God (Hebrews 10:24-25).

7. He is ever thankful to God (v.20). He gives thanks for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

8. He is not proud but submitting one to another in the fear of God (v.21). He submits to those who have the rule over the church (Hebrews 13:17).

9. He is a loving husband. She is a loving and submissive wife (v.22-33).

10. He is a filial son. She is a filial daughter (6:1-3).

11. A good father who brings up his children in the way of God (6:4).

12. A good employee (6:5-8).

13. A good employer (6:6).

And, when you add up with those things that Paul mentioned earlier in the new man in chapter 4:17-32, you have one very good Christian who is walking in the light.

In actual fact, we know what we must do to be considered as one who is walking in the light, but our flesh is weak and we let sin overpower us causing us to walk in darkness (Romans 7:15-17). Let us find strength in the Lord that we may walk in the light (Matthew 26:41).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.