The world walks differently from the walk of the Christian. As Christians we are called to a different walk. A walk in the light, not in the darkness. We are to be a light to the nations.
"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Ephesians 4: 17-19
The Futility Of Their Minds
The world walks "in the futility of their minds". What a strange expression, "futility of their minds". Futility means uselessness or pointlessness. The world seeks answers from themselves. A place where there are no answers. All the answers they find are empty and useless.
Darkened Understanding
The world has "their understanding darkened". Meaning that while engaging in sin people lose their ability to see the beauty and goodness of righteousness. The indulgences of people in the world give them excuses for their sin. The light is there to be seen, but they don't want to see it.
Alienated From God
The world has been "alienated from the life of God". The world wants no part of God. They are isolated, estranged from God. They have no spiritual life in God, no indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Ignorant, Blind and Unfeeling
Why do these things happen to those who don't know God? First because of the "ignorance that is within them". They don't know God. They don't even understand what virtue really is. Secondly, because of the "blindness of their heart". St. Augustine said,
"The blind man is the human race. Therefore Christ came to illuminate, since the devil had blinded us."
And because the world is "past feeling", in other words the world really doesn't understand the fact that sin is sin, they don't see wrong doing for what it is. They feel no remorse because they don't think they have done wrong. They have become callous.
This blindness, this callousness, has led them to give themselves over to lewdness. This is not a word we hear very often today. Lewdness means that you indulge in things like lust, fornication (sex outside of marriage) or adultery. They continue voluntarily in their sin and with zeal, with a passion, for the things that are not of God. And they do this with greediness. They can't get enough of sin. They wallow in it with no remorse, willingly.
The New Man
But, as Christians, Paul says we have "put on the new man which was created according to God". How does this new man act? Ephesians 4: 25-32 tells us that he doesn't lie, get angry, steal, or speak evilly but instead is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.
So, we Christians are told to stop lying. I see lying everywhere. It almost seems like everyone lies. If we are angry, it should not lead to sin. We should forgive quickly.
We should not steal what we need, but work so we can be charitable to others. We work so we can share what we have with others.
We should speak words that build up others morally, and in the faith, not words that are ugly, hurtful, tempting someone to do wrong, or cursing. We should not speak using idle words (Matthew 12:36). We should not grieve or sadden the Holy Spirit by living in a sinful way.
Walk In The Light
Our anger, our foul speech, our bitterness should be gone. Instead we should be kind and forgiving, tender toward each other. Why? Because" Christ forgave us while we were yet sinners." We are light bearers to the world. We should walk in the light because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
Paul opens chapter four of Ephesians by explaining that we are to walk worthy of our calling. We are to be humble, gentle, longsuffering, loving, and trying always to have a unity of the Spirit with each other.
A beautiful hymn about this can be heard here.
Praise God your Great Story
Let us worship above,
Bearing each with love,
The one who is worthy,
The one who is love.
As we call on His name
With a gentle refrain,
We'll seek out his mercy
Till we all can exclaim,
Praise God your great story
Till we see your glory!
With the bond of your peace
We'll tell all your story!
-Carol Plafcan
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