The meaning of the figure of speech from the Ephesians statement is that while we sleep we are in the dark, not conscious of the reality of the world or God, or any responsibility for either ourselves or others. When we are awake we enter the light of life circumstances. In proper light we can learn about ourselves, what is right and what is wrong. We may shade it by reducing spiritual wattage. If we choose, Christ becomes light for us in spiritual insight. His light will shine. The Son has light that the Sun knows not of. We can awake to natural light and eternal. In the physical world some persons are aware of the invisible, like infra-red rays. By analogy, some persons are aware of that source of light which reveals God’s righteousness. The implication of the Apostle Paul, in this passage, is that Christians may fall asleep even in their spirituality, and miss the facts of spiritual life because of inner somnolence.
Earlier in the letter, the Apostle affirms the reason for the darkness of pagan (Gentile) lives caused by the hardening of their hearts. (4:18) Darkness is detected in the culture of sensuality, and a desire for its increase. (4:19) Virtue for the Christian is to put off this old self, and put on the new self – as one would choose to change a garment. The Christian puts off impurity, insensitivity, deceit, falsehood, stealing, rage, idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, greed, obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, slander, bitterness, and the like. Children of light put on truth, find growth in love, holiness, work, sharing, wisdom, constructive conversation, compassion, forgiveness, reverence, thanksgiving, submission, and the like. The evil is summarized in Pauline words like futility, debauchery, and giving the devil a foothold. The summary for the Christian is: goodness, righteousness, truth, and imitators of God. Awesome! If true, the pattern cannot be improved.
In desire to escape religious legalism, we may overcompensate by avoiding anything that smacks of law. To do so, we feel, is to give honor to God’s grace by which we understand that human salvation is a gift from God, and works of goodness are insufficient to achieve salvation or merit. Evil makes its own difference, but we leave that to be sorted out under other considerations. Good or bad, mankind needs help and grace for salvation to immortality. We must be awake to be properly motivated. This sounds like so many of my childhood teachers: Pay attention!
Legal requirements for God’s approval may be easier for us than grace, in that we are challenged to accept commanded change for righteousness even if we feel it difficult to maintain. We are bent to wander. We are, in grace, put on our mettle to follow God in obedience. The inclination away from God is strong. With God’s deliverance from temporary gratifications, Christians are guided to take the high road and resist sin that so easily besets us. Law insists on following the letter of the page. Grace lets recalcitrant go, but calls them to account for what they choose to be when life concludes. It is likely that somewhere in the depths of our souls we know something of this. Informed Christians know they should not delay life matters to death-bed negotiations. The Ephesian Epistle provides enlightening insight for the issues. The benefit eludes the sleeper. Son-light is faith awareness of God’s blessing on us. There is no clear way that can be gained without serious involvement with Scripture. After decades of reading the Bible, readers report finding something new that enlightens, even in reading passages repeated earlier – often. Light from Scripture has divine force to shine brighter each time the reader turns it up, simply by reading with attentiveness. Wake up! Pay attention, they said. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020