Rise and Shine: A Spiritual Wake-Up Call
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14).
The next time you try to wake someone up in the morning with the words, “Rise and shine!”, you should think of the gospel. It’s quite likely that the phrase originates from these words quoted by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church of Ephesus. Although no one knows for sure where the specific quote comes from, biblical scholars have suggested that Paul is probably quoting a resurrection hymn that was sung by the early church.
Regardless, Paul’s purpose is to convey a spiritual wake-up call for the visible church. The sad reality for some professing believers is that they are spiritually sleepwalking. They’re living in a state of autopilot, simply going through the motions of life, while lacking any real discernment. And let’s face it, on some level, we all need to wake up. Our culture, driven by the sinful world’s system, is doing everything it can to numb our minds and desensitize our biblically formed convictions. In light of this reality, Paul provides the church with seven aspects of how followers of Christ, in general, should live their lives for the glory of God.
Live Carefully by Exercising God’s Wisdom
There is a temptation to hit the spiritual snooze button, especially when considering familiar texts of Scripture. I want to encourage you, however, to carefully reflect upon Paul’s Spirit-inspired words. We see the first aspect of the exhortation in this passage in verse 15. Paul writes:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,”
The word translated “carefully” in this verse is where we get our English word “acrobat.” It means to be extremely accurate or precise. Since I’m now living in Arizona, this brings to my mind a man named Nik Wallenda. In 2013, Wallenda walked across the Little Colorado River, near the Grand Canyon, on a tight rope.[1]
Although he was 1,500 feet in the air, Wallenda walked across a two-inch wide rope without a harness or safety net. Without question, this walk was not accomplished carelessly. On the contrary, it required all his energy, with each step, to walk with a meticulous attention to detail. And yet, while 1,500 feet in the air is extremely high, the calling of believers is of an infinitely higher magnitude.
So, how do we live carefully in this sinful world? By exercising and applying the wisdom of God, as found in His Word. This approach is diametrically opposed to the pattern of this world. Instead of turning to God, who is the Creator of all true wisdom, the world turns to self and pridefully boasts in its own so-called intellect. This is also how we lived prior to salvation. We were led by our emotions and pleasures. We didn’t take the time to consider the will of God or try to discern what is pleasing in His sight.
But now, in Christ, that should be just the opposite of who we are. Instead of making decisions based upon what we feel, our actions should be dictated by Scripture. This is the life of the child of God who is carefully navigating his way through this world according to the wisdom of God.
Live Intentionally by Stewarding God’s Time
When it comes to the life we’ve been given, none of us know how long we have. This is why the Apostle continues, in verse 16, saying:
“making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Interestingly, the word Paul uses for “making the best use” is actually a term that means “redeemed.” In addition, the word for “time” is one that refers to a set period. In other words, Paul is telling us that we should take full advantage of the amount of time God has given us on this earth. Instead of being presumptuous, or taking for granted the time we’ve been given, we should treasure each day and strive to use it in a God-honoring way.
This should be both a humbling and motivating thought, because none of us can predict how long we have left on this earth. We may be here for another fifty years or have only another fifty days. It is completely determined in the mind and sovereign plan of God, and it should dramatically affect our perspective on life in a multitude of ways.
It most certainly did for the eighteenth-century pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards. At just eighteen years of age, Edwards began writing in his personal journal, which became what we now know as “The Resolutions.” Among the seventy resolutions Edwards penned, at least ten of them related to his use of time:
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.
Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Like the Apostle Paul, Edwards understood that the world we live in is full of darkness and rebellion to God. And not only in the world, but as Edwards noted, within us also exists a corruption that we must be aware of and fight against. We do that by living with an awareness and intentionality to rightly steward the time we’ve been given.
Live Discerningly by Understanding God’s Will
As we live with intentionality, we’re also called to discern and seek to understand God’s will. Continuing in verse 17, Paul writes:
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
The word “foolish” here means “without reason or without reflection.” And the word “understand” points to using our minds and intellect to comprehend something, specifically here, the will of God. Notice that Paul says nothing about trying to guess God’s will, feeling it in one’s heart, or looking for signs. Rather, it mirrors what he writes in Romans 12:1-2:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
So the key to understanding God’s will is for our minds to be continually renewed by the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. This is the objective standard of God’s truth, which He has revealed to us in His wisdom and kindness. The Word of God always leads us to the will of God.
Live Temperately by Walking in God’s Spirit
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we find many parallels with his letter to the Ephesians. The parallel for this portion of the letter, in Colossians, says:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Col. 3:16).
Pointing us to the relationship between the Word of God and the Spirit of God, the parallel verse, here in Ephesians 5:18, says:
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
So on the one hand, the word translated “debauchery” means to surrender oneself to reckless abandon. It’s a lifestyle of wasteful carelessness. But on the other hand, when considering the word “filled”, rather than thinking of it like water being filled to the top of the brim, the idea is like a hand filling a glove. Because the hand fills the glove, when the hand moves in a particular direction, so too does the glove. Therefore, Paul is presenting us with a contrast. Instead of surrendering ourselves to the drunken influence and control of alcohol (or anything else for that matter), we should be a people who are controlled by the Spirit.
In the same way that people choose to get drunk with alcohol, the believer who is filled with the Spirit chooses to obey God and seeks to submit his life to the Spirit’s work. But here’s the main difference: being intoxicated causes a person to lose self-control, while being filled with the Spirit causes the believer to have more self-control in accordance with the Word of God.
Live Graciously by Conveying God’s Joy
What should be the result of a life that is continually being submitted to the leading and guiding of the Spirit, in accordance with the truth of God’s Word? It will be a life of abundant joy, which demonstrates itself in the way we communicate and interact with others. A saved life is a joyful life. As Paul writes in verse 19:
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,”
The Spirit of God transforms our hearts and begins to sanctify our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions. It isn’t that we receive more of the Spirit. It’s that the Spirit receives more of us. And in doing so, He manifests Himself in our lives both with the joyful words we convey and with the heart of abundant worship we demonstrate. This is not just true in the corporate worship setting. It’s also what should be true in our day-to-day interactions with others as well.
Live Thankfully by Praising God’s Goodness
In addition to being a gracious and joyful people, we should also be a thankful people. Paul continues in verse 20, saying:
“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
So when should we be thankful? Always. And what do we have to be thankful for? Everything. The life of every Christian should be a life that is overflowing with genuine gratitude and heartfelt thankfulness to God, both for who He is and for all that He has done for us.
Continually reminding yourself of the many blessings the Lord has given you, is a remedy against a multitude of sins. Bitterness, malice, resentment, discontentment, and covetousness are all swallowed up by our thankfulness to God, when we are praising Him for His goodness.
Live Respectfully by Honoring God’s People
Finally, we come to the seventh aspect of the calling God has placed upon our lives, as believers. Looking to verse 21, Paul writes:
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
The word “submitting” means “ to arrange under” or “subject oneself to another.” It was commonly used as a military term to refer to the arrangement of troop divisions under the command of a leader. Submission is certainly not a popular concept in our culture. Because of the depraved condition every human being is born with, we are actually inclined toward the exact opposite of submission, which is rebellion.
Since this is the case, and the Lord calls us to submit to one another, it’s important for us to ask the question, “Where does the desire for submission come from?” The answer is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. By the power of God’s Spirit, our pride is crucified with Christ, and we increasingly bow our wills to the will of Christ.
And yet, we also notice that the text specifically says that we honor Christ by submitting to one another, which Paul will expound upon in the remainder of the chapter. Therefore, what we can confidently assert is that God has ordained submission for our good. Whether it’s children submitting to their parents, wives submitting to their husbands, citizens submitting to their governing authorities, or members of a local church submitting to their pastors, submission is a God-ordained concept. And it begins with an attitude that flows from a heart of worship and reverence of God Himself.
As we reflect upon these aspects of our calling as Christians, it’s important for us to understand that Christ not only purchased our redemption, but he also provided us with a perfect example. When we look to Christ, we see the perfect demonstration of how we’ve been called to live. May we each evaluate our lives to see if we’re striving to live according to the high calling we’ve been given. If not, then may we seriously consider these imperative words of hope and promise:
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14).
References:
[1] History.com Editors. “Wallenda Makes Grand Canyon Crossing on High Wire | June 23, 2013.” History.com. Accessed August 1, 2023. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wallenda-makes-grand-canyon-crossing-on-high-wire.