Some people find it difficult to
wake up. Some have a hard time getting up. Then there are some people who wake
up and get up and yet are far from shining. To be awake should declare that one
is alert. To be able and accomplish getting up says that one is in reasonable
health and strength to do something. To shine requires light in us which comes
from another source and requires beneficial action.
In Ephesians 5:8-14,
the apostle Paul wrote: “For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of
light; (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame
even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things
that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make
manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
As this passage points out,
Christians are children of light. As a result then, Christians should not be
found in darkness. That which is produced as a consequence of what the Spirit
has given is found in goodness, righteousness, and truth (v.9), and
demonstrates what is acceptable to the Lord (v.10). Instead of association with
darkness and its unfruitful works, the Christian should reprove them (v.11),
for those things are so shameful because they are so contrary to God’s will,
that it is embarrassing even to speak of them (v.12). It is truth which
reproves and shows corruption (v.13). There is none of this “Judge not, lest ye
be not judged.” Where God has spoken, the only thing remaining is whether or
not we shall faithfully follow through with His bidding or not.
Christ is the provider of the light
(v.14). The Christian does not need to figure out what light is, what to do
with it, or how to handle it. Christ is the light of the world. To be in Him is
to have the light to shine before the world (Matt. 5:16).
Therefore, if you are a Christian, you need to wake up, get
up, and shine (v.14).
If you do not do so, you yet remain in darkness and are not
living in the truth.
“If we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do
not the truth”
(1 John 1:6).