October 24: Galatians-Ephesians

Living as Children of Light: Ephesians 4:17-5:14

The word "light" and "dark" have been used for thousands of years in many civilizations to symbolize "good" and "evil". I tend to think of what the light IS. The light is Truth. The Light is Jesus. The light is good. But I am starting to see that the dichotomy of light vs. dark/good vs. evil also involves what the light does. The light shines on darkness. The light exposes truth, the light reveals good/evil.

This was a concept the Galations could understand. I'm assuming they would have been familiar with ancient Greek/Roman mythology in which the Sun god, Helios (Sol to the Romans) was a god of light who was respected and honored as party of the Olympian gods. It is interesting that this god of light was also known as a heavenly spy from which it was difficult to keep something hidden. In a few popular myths, the god of the sun was asked to search for someone or was the first to discover something evil that was happening on earth. This affirms the concept of the light shining on the darkness and revealing good or evil.

In contrast to the "heavenly realm" of the Olympian gods, there were also the gods of the Underworld/earth who were their "dark and shadowy" counterparts. The Underworld was often associated with darkness. The earth was often where evil things happened.

I'm not saying Paul wanted the people to associate Jesus with Helios, but the concept of light vs. dark, good vs. evil was not a new concept in the ancient world and Paul used the associations people of the time had with light and dark to help them understand what it meant to live as Children of the Light--not only doing good but also seeing that Jesus (the Light) would reveal good and evil. He wants people to remember that Jesus sees all things-even those things not "visible" to others. He is the light and we are to be Children of the Light.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as
children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteosness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do
with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful
even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the
light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. THis is
why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine
on you." ~Ephesians 5:8-14