"The Land of the Living" (Part 1)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).

As I mentioned yesterday, today’s Morning Devotional will begin a series that I have been thinking about for some time, but came into sharp focus while I was going through all the steps to back surgery. I am not going to bore you with the minutiae of that experience; however, I do want to focus your attention on some of the incredible truths Paul gives us in our reading today that were sharpened for me in that experience.

So let me begin with some overview. If you have had any surgery in your life, you know as soon as you receive your anesthesia you are completely “in the dark.” You are artificially placed in a state where you can neither feel nor think for yourself. It was amazing how many more tubes were in my body after the surgery than before! And, I’m told there were others that were removed prior to being awakened! Paul begins this paragraph with a sense of urgency for all Christians to “walk in the Light.” I have paralleled this statement with the words in our title, Land of the Living.” Walking in the light is living in the land of the living.

Think about it. When you are placed under anesthesia some things happen very quickly. I remember being rolled into the surgical suite and several people introduced themselves to me, telling me what their function was going to be during the surgery. One would administer the anesthesia, another would monitor vital signs, another would assist the surgeon… all the while a plastic mask was being placed over my mouth and nose and sending me into “la-la land” (the doctor’s words, not mine)! If there was more said to me after that point I sure don’t remember them. The next thing I remember was being awakened by three orderlies pulling me from the gurney to the bed. I could tell you that hurt, but truthfully I didn’t feel anything for some time yet. Here’s the point. As a believer in Christ, we no longer walk in darkness. For the most part, we know what’s happening and have a choice about it.

When the room went dark, I had no choice about anything they did to me. Fortunately the hospital and staff have the greatest of history and reputation, so it was easy to trust myself to them. But, do you want to grant that same level of trust to the one who controls this world? Not me. Satan only has my worst in mind. To give him any control over my life would be disastrous. And, the good news is that I don’t have to give him that power. As a child of God I can walk in the light, the land of the living. I can yield my life to the One who has conquered darkness and death to bring light and life to the world. We’ll talk about the how of that in subsequent days. However, today please listen to the Spirit as He calls to you to a life of righteousness, godliness, and truth.