Ephesians 5:11-20

1. Recently, I read a book about overcoming low self-esteem through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The title is "Overcoming Low Self-Esteem." While reading, I discovered a significant reason why people may experience low self-esteem—it often stems from forming opinions about their lives that aren't grounded in truth or facts. I believe this is a valid point because many people shape their opinions based on personal experiences or images, rather than objective truths. 

2. In philosophy, there are two types of knowledge: subjective and objective. Objective knowledge is information that hasn't been influenced or interpreted by any individual. It's often referred to as "raw knowledge." For example, when we encounter a statement like "all men have a religion," if we refrain from adding our own understanding or interpretation, it remains objective knowledge. However, as soon as we translate it based on our personal experiences or beliefs, saying something like "because my mother doesn't believe in God, the statement 'all men have a religion' is incorrect," it transforms into subjective knowledge. This shift occurs because it becomes intertwined with our individual understanding and experiences. 

3. All Christians are on a quest to discover Jesus and his teachings. This implies that they engage with the factual knowledge of God, as Jesus Christ, the Word of God, forms the basis of their lives. Today, let's explore the significance of walking in wisdom. Being wise or walking in wisdom is closely linked to comprehending the factual knowledge of God. Let us read Ephesians 5:14-20. 

Ephesians 5:14–17 (NKJV)

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:18–20 NKJV

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

4. In Ephesians 5, Paul discusses the Christian life on earth. For Christians, this means living a life characterized by love, light, and wisdom. Walking in love signifies believers, those who follow Jesus, embracing a new existence in God. Through Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and resurrection, we've received salvation, altering our identity from being in sin to being in love, represented by Jesus. Since Jesus embodies love, we can now lead our lives by loving God, our neighbors, and even our enemies. "Walking in light" can be interpreted as walking with light, by light, or before the light. This conveys the idea that our life's purpose undergoes a transformation when Jesus redeems us from darkness. Previously, we were blind and unable to discern our direction and purpose. Before knowing Jesus, our lives lacked guidance. However, through Jesus' redemption from darkness, we began to perceive the light in Him. Indeed, Jesus embodies light. Therefore, when we are in the light, we walk with it, in it, and by it, allowing us to stand before the light in our lives.

5. Now, Paul discusses the importance of walking in wisdom or being wise. Wisdom is tied to our practical knowledge and understanding of facts. I have a friend who worked as a heavy-duty mechanic for a long time. He has repaired numerous trucks and cars, enabling him to identify car problems simply by listening to the sounds they make. Additionally, he worked as an appliance repairman until retirement. When I had issues with my washer, he didn't just rely on the manual; he used his wealth of experience to quickly identify and solve the problem. His ability to share wisdom about appliances comes from his understanding of them through both factual knowledge and hands-on experience. 

6. This realization highlights that wisdom stems from a combination of factual knowledge and experience. When these elements are well-connected, they form wisdom. However, when it transforms into an opinion rather than wisdom, it suggests people are relying on their personal sense of knowledge or understanding, rather than factual information. Factual knowledge remains objective until someone engages with it, at which point it becomes subjective. Nowadays, there's a trend where if the majority considers a subjective fact, it can be viewed as an objective fact. This is evident in people's trust in YouTube news. If a YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, there's a tendency for people to believe it presents more accurate facts than traditional TV news media. This illustrates that people often accept wisdom or knowledge based on relationships and popularity. We can observe the consequences of the first humans' fall into sin when they prioritized their relationships over obedience. In Genesis 3, Eve chose to heed the voice of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, disregarding God's guidance in favor of the serpent's counsel. Similarly, Adam listened to Eve instead of God, forgetting God's commandment. This lapse in obedience led to their downfall into sin.

Genesis 3:1–2 (NIV)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:3–5 (NIV)

but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:6–7 NIV

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

7. The fruit of knowledge caused them to focus on themselves instead of God. It led to self-criticism as they became aware of their nakedness. Despite having the knowledge of good and evil, the first humans didn't discover the good but were drawn towards the evil. They opted for the path of evil, guided by their knowledge rather than choosing good. This occurred because human knowledge directs their attention inward, leading them to naturally follow their desires and lusts.

Romans 1:20 NLT

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 1:21–22 NLT

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

8. Hence, achieving wisdom or being wise isn't as simple as acquiring knowledge, as we often tend to follow our own experiences or desires. Instead, the key is to engage in a relationship with God while being filled with the Spirit. This is crucial because human wisdom and God's wisdom are fundamentally different and often seem contradictory. From God's perspective, human wisdom appears empty, while from a human viewpoint, God's wisdom might seem foolish. Unlike a popular YouTuber with a million subscribers, God's choices don't always align with the majority. In the first century, God opted for a death penalty to fulfill His promise and chose sacrifice over populism to redeem us from our sins.

1 Corinthians 1:20–22 (MSG)

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom,

1 Corinthians 1:23–25 MSG

we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tiny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.”

9. To be wise or walk in wisdom, we must shift our focus from ourselves to God. Instead of following our own desires, we should align ourselves with God's plan and Word because God is the source of wisdom; He embodies wisdom. Therefore, the primary relationship we need to establish is with God through Jesus Christ. This relationship helps us recognize our new identity in Christ and our belonging to the heavenly realm.

10. Since becoming a permanent resident in Canada, I need to renew my PR card every five years. I can continue living in Canada without renewing it, but I won't be able to leave the country. If I travel outside Canada without the PR card, my permanent resident status will be terminated. This week, I applied to renew my PR card, and it made me reflect on Christian identity and status on Earth. The Bible teaches that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior through faith in Christ, we receive a new identity. We are redeemed from darkness to light through God's gracious work in Jesus Christ. However, it doesn't mean we attain a perfect condition without sin. Instead, we still need to combat our sinful nature with the help of the Spirit.

11. We can combat our sinful nature because we entered a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Before this relationship, our focus was on our own desires and will, governed by the old law. Sin and our own desires were our masters, and we were ensnared in sin, often unaware of the need to overcome it. However, when we enter a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God illuminates our understanding. We begin to recognize our sinful nature and find the strength to resist it. This newfound awareness and ability to fight against our nature are precious gifts from God through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:1–3 NRSV

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

12. Becoming a permanent resident in Canada gives me a new identity, while still retaining our Korean identity. It also means letting go of our address in Korea. Although my address in Canada is temporary, as I am not a Canadian citizen, I no longer have a home in Korea. Similarly, our Christian status mirrors this. We have a permanent place in heaven with God, and it is our eternal home. However, on earth, like a temporary address in Canada, we have a temporary place. While our permanent status in Christ cannot be terminated by our will unless God wills it, our earthly circumstances may change. This is why our hope remains steadfast, grounded in God and Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:1 NASB 2020

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

13. Therefore, our guiding principles in life are to walk in love, light, and wisdom, as God embodies these qualities. Our allegiance is to God, our Lord and Saviour, and we are His children. It's essential not to stray or enter into other relationships; God is the center of our lives.