"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8
Word studies in scripture can be extremely profitable. Not the least of the words which will yield a treasure trove of instruction for the believer is the word "walk" in its various forms. One of the earliest occurrences, enormously instructive, is found in Genesis 5:24; "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him." Not only is the text significant in itself, but its impact is heightened when it is meditated upon in the light of it context. In a long list of names (obituaries, really) this terse verse stands in stunning contrast. All the others, before and after, end with, "and he died," a grim fact stunningly omitted in the case of Enoch. Generations later the Holy Spirit added this remarkable commentary: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God [Heb. 11:5]."
In a world of moral darkness, Enoch walked in light. In a world so dark that when God sent the great flood, He could find only one man's family qualified for deliverance, Enoch proved that it was possible for a man who walked by faith to walk in the light as a man apart, pleasing God and experiencing a unique relationship with God and a unique deliverance from the tragic lot of the common man.
It is to this that we are being called when the Spirit of God exhorts, "walk as children of light." How we are to do that may be discovered in considerable detail by a careful study of the principle throughout scripture. Here, let me offer just a few highlights.
First, and most obvious, if we are to walk as children of light we will need the light of the Word of God. David put it this way: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path [Ps. 119:105]." And again, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee [Ps. 119:11]." Earlier he had noted, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways [Ps. 119:1-3]." Observe the emphasis on "walk."
Never in modern times has the light of God's word been more important that it is today. We live in an era when men are calling light darkness and darkness light. We are bombarded daily with the powerful influences of modern communication, and are being conditioned to regard as acceptable behavior, conduct which is condemned in scripture and abhorred by the God of the Bible. It is only as the mind and heart are saturated with the word of God that we will be able to distinguish truth from error, and purpose to walk in light.
If we are to walk as children of light, it will be a walk that conforms to the word of God and is in contrast to the world. The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, earlier wrote, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ… [Eph 4:17-20]." We are then instructed to "put off… the old man (4:22)," and to "put on the new man (4:24)."
The "new man" is Christ. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," the apostle exhorts in Romans 13:14. Walking as children of light means walking in conformity to the character of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself so to walk, even as He walked [I John 2:6]." And what does that mean? We are again sent to the scriptures for enlightenment. The immediate context declares, "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [I John 2:4]." To be sure, we are not saved by commandment keeping. But, being saved, we are called to obedience to His commandments, which will make our character a reflection of His.
<<>>
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Word studies in scripture can be extremely profitable. Not the least of the words which will yield a treasure trove of instruction for the believer is the word "walk" in its various forms. One of the earliest occurrences, enormously instructive, is found in Genesis 5:24; "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him." Not only is the text significant in itself, but its impact is heightened when it is meditated upon in the light of it context. In a long list of names (obituaries, really) this terse verse stands in stunning contrast. All the others, before and after, end with, "and he died," a grim fact stunningly omitted in the case of Enoch. Generations later the Holy Spirit added this remarkable commentary: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God [Heb. 11:5]."
In a world of moral darkness, Enoch walked in light. In a world so dark that when God sent the great flood, He could find only one man's family qualified for deliverance, Enoch proved that it was possible for a man who walked by faith to walk in the light as a man apart, pleasing God and experiencing a unique relationship with God and a unique deliverance from the tragic lot of the common man.
It is to this that we are being called when the Spirit of God exhorts, "walk as children of light." How we are to do that may be discovered in considerable detail by a careful study of the principle throughout scripture. Here, let me offer just a few highlights.
First, and most obvious, if we are to walk as children of light we will need the light of the Word of God. David put it this way: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path [Ps. 119:105]." And again, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee [Ps. 119:11]." Earlier he had noted, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways [Ps. 119:1-3]." Observe the emphasis on "walk."
Never in modern times has the light of God's word been more important that it is today. We live in an era when men are calling light darkness and darkness light. We are bombarded daily with the powerful influences of modern communication, and are being conditioned to regard as acceptable behavior, conduct which is condemned in scripture and abhorred by the God of the Bible. It is only as the mind and heart are saturated with the word of God that we will be able to distinguish truth from error, and purpose to walk in light.
If we are to walk as children of light, it will be a walk that conforms to the word of God and is in contrast to the world. The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, earlier wrote, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ… [Eph 4:17-20]." We are then instructed to "put off… the old man (4:22)," and to "put on the new man (4:24)."
The "new man" is Christ. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," the apostle exhorts in Romans 13:14. Walking as children of light means walking in conformity to the character of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself so to walk, even as He walked [I John 2:6]." And what does that mean? We are again sent to the scriptures for enlightenment. The immediate context declares, "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [I John 2:4]." To be sure, we are not saved by commandment keeping. But, being saved, we are called to obedience to His commandments, which will make our character a reflection of His.
<<>>
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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