A Fear of the Dark
I think one of the innate things God has programmed us to develop is a fear of the dark. Each of my kids needs some sort of light in their room at night to feel safe. Even adults can be, at the very least, unnerved by the dark. Truth be told, I like to have at least a little glow of light so I don’t trip if I get up in the middle of the night. Have you ever walked through this building at night by yourself, with the lights turned off? It’s not a place I like to linger for long. Stare into the shadows long enough, and your mind will trick you into thinking they are moving.
As we grow we come to know that a large percentage of the bad things that happen in our world happen in the dark. That’s when people like to break in and steal things. That’s when drunks choose to drive home. That’s when people are mugged in parking lots and alley ways. Darkness in the wrong location can be dangerous.
Scripture often speaks of good and evil in terms of light and darkness. But this is such a universal metaphor that even other religions draw the same comparison. Light represents goodness, morality, knowledge, truth, and other things like them. On the other hand, darkness represents evil, immorality, a lack of knowledge, danger, and the like. So then it should be no surprise that our holy and righteous Father in heaven is described by John as being “light” (1 John 1:5). And Jesus also said about himself that he is the “light of the world” (John 8:12). On the other hand, Jesus spoke of those who were arresting him at his betrayal as doing so with the “power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). The terror of darkness is also used to describe the nature of God’s punishment of evil (cf. Matt. 25:30; 2 Pet. 2:4).
Light and dark are mutually exclusive of each other. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. Sure, the light may be dim, but dim light still isn’t darkness. There’s no way for the two to mix together. Light will always overwhelm darkness. Darkness isn’t the opposite of light, either. It is the absence of light. In the same way, there’s no way good and evil can acceptably “mix” somehow in the Christian. We must fight the false idea that a little evil, or a little darkness is okay. And that particular truth is at the heart of our study this morning.
Our text is Ephesians 5:7-14. It picks up where we left off last week, discussing the command to imitate God as dear children, and the need to avoid the things that others are doing to bring God’s wrath upon them. Considering some of what Paul said in the previous verses (vv. 3-6) was directed toward Christians who were likely still involved in some of the things he was rebuking them about (cf. 4:25-32), there’s a two-fold purpose to this: First, to rebuke those who aren’t living as light and show them their need to, and second, to show how a child of light behaves in relation to darkness. It’s further explanation of how we do what we studied in 4:17-24 (i.e. true conversion), in being transformed into the likeness of God. So let’s read our text:
“(7) Therefore do not become partners with them; (8) for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (9) (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (10) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (11) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (12) For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (13) But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, (14) 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 5:7–14, ESV)
For the sake of context, remember that the “them” of verse seven looks back to the “sons of disobedience” in verse six—the ones on whom God’s wrath is coming! Don’t join in with those guilty of the sins in verses 3-6. Don’t be their partners, or partakers in the same things. But Paul adds some reasoning to this that goes beyond just fearing God’s wrath as a motivation for living righteously. And it has to do with the contrast between being darkness, and being light.
1. LIVE as a Light (v. 8-10)
Kids love to sing the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” And you know the words: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” It also reminds me of how we often think of “light” as something we have. Or in the way John uses it, as something we “walk in” (e.g. walking in the light as He is light, 1 Jn. 1:7). The light is somehow something different from our being.
But I want you to notice how personal Paul gets in verse eight. He doesn’t say, “At one time you were IN darkness.” He says, “At one time you WERE darkness.” He’s not talking about an environment. He’s not saying they were in a bad place. He’s talking about people. The people themselves were darkness. But now as Christians, Paul also describes them in Jesus as being “light.” Again, not “walking in the light,” but the actual person is “light in the Lord.” The same is true for us. Before you were in Christ you were darkness. Now, in the Lord, you are (or rather, ought to be) light. Not just that you have a light. Not just that you are in light. You, in the Lord, are a being of light.
Let that sink in. Meditate on it for just a second. As a Christian, in Christ you ARE light. Or at least you are supposed to be. Paul adds a command to that at the end of verse eight: “Walk as children of light.” This connects right back to what Paul wrote in Eph. 5:1, in that we are to be imitators of God, “as beloved children.” Again, John wrote (1 Jn. 1:5) that God is light (i.e. holy, righteous, pure), and in him is no darkness (no evil, immorality, wickedness). And we are his beloved children. If we are going to be renewed into his likeness (4:23-24), if we are going to be imitators of our beloved heavenly Father, then that demands we live as children of His light. Paul then mentions two things that indicate we are doing this.
First, we are bearing the fruits of light (v. 9). Remember, a “fruit” in Bible terms is a result of a manner of living. So what are the fruits of living as a light? Paul wrote that those fruits are “found in all that is good and right and true.” We bear those fruits when we imitate God, when we imitate Christ. So what fruits are evident in your life? Are these? Are you a living example of God’s light? That’s something to consider.
Second, we are learning (and doing) what is pleasing to the Lord (v. 10). Thankfully you and I don’t have to guess about this. We don’t use the process of trial and error to see what pleases God. He’s told us! In His Word! What Paul is saying here is that you, as a light, need to know and do what pleases God.
As a follower of Jesus, a child of God the Father, you have a new identity to live up to: Light. Jesus referred to his followers as “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). See, living as a follower of Jesus is about more than avoidance of sin. It’s also about being a light, and shining the light of truth on the darkness of sin. And that brings us to our second thought.
2. SHINE the Light (v. 11-14)
A few years ago the commercials for an anti-smoking campaign made quite a stir. The CDC was the organization behind them, the campaign being titled Tips from Former Smokers. They were shocking. They showed the long term effects cigarettes had on some people. They were emaciated. They could hardly breath. They were covered in scars from surgeries to remove cancerous parts of their bodies. They could no longer carry out normal lives. And all of this because of a vice they refused to give up. A vice that was unfruitful, but not harmless.
How does that relate to our text? Those commercials were produced to draw attention to the harmful effects of cigarettes. To shine a light on what they can do to a person. And the hope is that they discourage some from continuing to do that harm to themselves. In a way, what they were trying to do with smoking is what Christians are tasked with doing with sin—exposing it for the harm it can cause. Let’s re-read verses 11-14 of our text:
“(11) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (12) For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (13) But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, (14) 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 5:11–14, ESV)
Paul starts verse eleven by reminding them to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.” This is a direct contrast to the “fruits” of walking as a child of light (v. 9). Paul is saying to stay away from those things, don’t have anything to do with them. Then he gives the alternative—“But instead, expose them.” Shine light on them, so others can see how unfruitful, how worthless such works truly are.
Just a couple things to make note of concerning this verse. I’ve seen some people use this verse as an excuse to go after people. But notice closely, Paul tells them to expose the works, and not the workers. Though the workers may be exposed in the exposing, it’s the sins themselves that are to be exposed. This verse is not an excuse for going on a theological “witch hunt” like some people do, being contentious for the faith rather than being a contender for the faith (cf. Jude 3). Likewise, the word “expose” is translated from a word that has a broad range of meaning—to rebuke, to drag into the light—practically, we’re calling something to others’ attention so they can see it. We are showing sin for what it is, and what it does.
But Paul adds something that’s important to remember in verse twelve. He says, “For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.” Some see a contradiction here at first—are we supposed to rebuke, or stay quiet? Consider a couple things with me, though. First, this is Paul’s commentary on the kinds of things that were being done behind closed doors. They were shameful, and speaking of them could be shameful, too. I’m reminded of the way he warns about how we speak of such things in Eph. 5:4, to not be filthy or crude in our speech. But also consider this: Those things need to be revealed. It’s just that as we reveal sin for what it is we don’t have to go into great amounts of detail. Think of it this way: The Bible covers a lot of very adult topics and situations—murders, adultery, fornication—yet does so very succinctly and without bringing to mind unnecessarily graphic thoughts. I think we can do the same.
Sure, we can shine light on sin in how we live our lives. Others observing the manner of our living can go a long way. But there are some things of which we, at times need to speak about. Just last week I had someone tell me that there were folks who would shy away from the preacher mentioning the “s-word” (three letters, rhymes with Chex) from the pulpit. I understand that. It feels uncomfortable for me to say it, too. But let me remind you that these epistles were read aloud to the church in the first century. If that’s what it says, it’s what I am bound to say. And let me also suggest to you that some people might have avoided some of the sins in their lives if righteous Christians hadn’t felt too embarrassed to speak of the shameful things done in secret.
There’s a balance that must be found, and maintained. Paul further adds in verses 13-14, “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.’” Some people need to be “awakened” from their spiritual slumber. Maybe they are outside the church. Maybe some are inside the church. In either case, they need to arise from the death that sin brings. Jesus shines a light on life so that people can know what is true, what is right, and what is wrong. Remember what Jesus said about himself:
“(12) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” (John 8:12, ESV)
You and I also act as that light. And we need to be sure that we are shining—both for our sakes, as well as the good of those who have yet to see the light, or need to see it (and be it) again.
CONCLUSION
As we close, look with me to what Jesus said in the “Sermon on the Mount”:
“(14) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, ESV)
As a Christian, you are light. Not just in the light—but you are the light. So shine that light. Bear the fruit of being a child of light, not a son of disobedience. Live your life in such a way to light the path for others to follow to their heavenly Father.