Right Where You Are – Week Four

During my college years, I was a summer camp chaperone for my church. Surprisingly even though I was only a few years older, they gave me responsibility for a roomful of teenage girls. Now, there is a lot I could tell you about those summer camp experiences – what it’s like riding a charter bus full of teenagers from North Carolina to Florida (long, long, and did I mention long), how one morning while we were at breakfast our room was robbed (talk about a terrified group of 6th-grade girls), or how terribly much I loved (insert sarcasm) participating in the beach relay course.

One summer, our theme was centered around Romans 5:14 – wake up. I can’t remember the exact title, but I do remember that during the night some of the leaders would sneak into the rooms, wake up the students, and then share the experience via video the following day in the main session. Thankfully, my room did not make that list!

Despite some fuzzy details from that time, I recall when the youth pastor first introduced us to that particular camp theme. I didn’t connect with the verse or understand its meaning – it seemed out of place and a strange choice. And to be honest, even by the end of the camp week, I still didn’t really connect. But I did learn the words. And now, years later, I have a better understanding of the meaning.

For this reason, it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 NASB

Today is a fixed moment in time. It is fleeting. You and I have opportunities that we can only capture now. But too often, we are lying comfortably under the covers. Like those campers, we need someone to turn on the lights and shake us up out of our slumber.

Verse 14 begins with the words “for this reason,” so we know it is a continuation of a previous thought. Paul is explaining that as God’s children, we are called to be imitators of Him. We have the opportunity to share Christ’s love, so we need to guard against the immortality and impurity that can hold us back from that mission. If we are not careful, we will be deceived into thinking certain behaviors are unseen and unknown, but in the end, all that is hidden will be exposed.

Right where you are today, you have an opportunity to yield life and goodness. But you need to be aware that there is a present danger. We live in perilous times – just watch or read the news. It is no time to curl up with the pillow over your head and zone out spiritually. It is a time to be alert and aware.

The Bible makes it clear that there are two ways we can walk – wise or unwise. We can follow the world’s methods for dealing with pain and confusion – violence, anger, indulgence, or ignorance. Or we can be full of the Spirit.

Listen to the following few verses,

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil, so they do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-18

As a college student/camp chaperone, I did not yet know how difficult life could be. I didn’t understand the challenges I would face. I hadn’t fully experienced the temptation to give up on God or His call. And I didn’t yet recognize the power of God.

Being full of the Spirit may sound unobtainable or undefinable, but in reality, God is inviting us to walk with Him day by day, moment by moment. Instead of zoning out, we can choose to engage fully. Instead of missing out, we can make the most of each day. Instead of feeding our selfish desires, we can nourish our spiritual souls.

Interestingly, if you keep reading the rest of Ephesians 5, Paul gives simple and practical examples of what living in the Spirit looks like.

• speaking life-giving, uplifting words to one another
• making melody in our hearts to God
• giving thanks all the time
• submitting to each other willingly because we love God so much

You and I will never have today to do over again. We won’t be able to go back to these exact circumstances or relationships. Yes, often the days are hard – even evil, as Paul states in verse 14. But Christ is shining, even in the darkest place. And not only does He want to shine on you, but He also wants to shine through you.

Let’s choose to love, speak life, and live with gratitude.