Look Close

Ephesians 5:16-23

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:16-18)

Most Americans spend little time in the woods or desert. We are used to having streets with sidewalks, street signs, stoplights, and police officers. As a result, we have become far less aware of the kinds of dangers our ancestors faced daily, with the result that we have become far less observant of our surroundings.

Several years ago, my brothers took some guests for a hike. Suddenly my brothers came into the house wanting help. One of their guests had not been paying attention to where he was walking. He had stepped on a patch of snow and slid down a steep incline. He had come to a stop on hump that dropped of vertically for another thirty feet or so. They were afraid that he would slip off the hump and fall the rest of the way, and they couldn’t climb down to where he was. He was easily rescued, although considerable time elapsed getting ropes and returning to where he was. We became more careful about taking other people hiking, as we began to realize many paid no attention to the things around them.

Paul warns of the dangers and distractions that can cause us to lose our way or stop us serving God for a time. By staying alert, we can avoid these things, rather than wasting time getting ourselves out of trouble. By taking the time to understand God’s will, we will not be wasting our time on harmful or useless efforts.

A very real danger in New Mexico is poisonous snakes. Rattlesnakes are found throughout the state. Fortunately most snakes are not aggressive, and a little caution minimizes the danger, with the result that people are rarely bitten. Coral snakes are found in some parts of the state. While even less likely to be bitten by one. They are far more poisonous.

Coral snakes can be identified by a pattern of red, yellow, and black stripes. A couple of other kinds of snakes, the milk snake and the king snake, have similar markings, but are harmless. They are readily distinguished by the difference in the sequence of colors, but if one does not know how to tell the difference, he should avoid any snake with such coloration. A mistake can be fatal.

In the spiritual realm. several things may resemble what one expects of spiritual things. The resemblance may be very slight and still be mistaken for the real thing. The uninformed may not distinguish the reality and settle for a false conclusion. On the day of Pentecost, the Christians spoke with other languages, and some assumed they were just drunk. Those who were more observant realized they were speaking various languages and that something more was going on.

“Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.” (Acts 2:6-13)
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A superficial look led to a conclusion of drunkeness, but a closer look dispelled that idea. Peter addressed them, and explained clearly what was happening. “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” (Acts 2:14-17).

Alcohol can produce feelings of happiness and peace that people mistake for the peace of God,. Though not mentioned here similar feelings of euphoria can be induced from lack of sleep, hypnosis, intense emotion, certain types of music, or various drugs. The sensations are real, but the basis is pure illusion. Paul warns the Ephesians to avoid settling for that, but to be actually filled with the Holy Spirit instead.

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:18-21)

Being filled with the Spirit will produce an attitude of thankfulness, and joy in our hearts toward God. It also results in greater yielding our wills to others. At the same time, by doing these things, we allow the Holy Spirit greater control in our lives. This results in his producing more fruit in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

I Peter assures us that by adding these things in our lives we guarantee a productive, successful Christian life. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (II Peter 1:5-10)