Rev. Nick Cheek
Ephesians 5: 8-20
Have you ever found yourself living in an in-between time? A time of uncertainty, an awkward time of change? Right now, we find ourselves living in-between summer and fall. It’s 75 one day with a cool dry breeze, and 95 swimming in humidity the next. Throughout our lives, we all encounter this in-between. It might be when we are in between vocations… searching and praying for a new job. It might be while we are in the middle of a significant relocation. A pregnant mother or a family hoping to adopt a child is living in-between – their lives will never be the same once that boy or girl enters the world. One thing is for sure, In-between times are not easy. They represent challenge and change… they represent struggle and uncertainty, but they also push us towards hope. The in-between times remind us that we are waiting and longing for something more… longing for what’s next—longing for light amid darkness.
Right now, we are living in what Paul would describe as an in-between time —the time between Christ’s resurrection and Christ’s return. We are living in-between the moment that Christ rose from the dead and conquered death and the time when he will come again completely to restore the world to harmony – a time when there will be no more wars… no more tears… a time when the Lion will indeed lay down with the lamb… a time when the world will be reconciled to Christ and there will be everlasting peace. The light has already broken into the world, but the darkness has not yet fully given way. Therefore, we catch glimpses of Christ’s light everywhere—we catch glimpses… in acts of courage, we catch glimpses of voices raised for justice, we catch glimpses of people sacrificing their privilege, their finances, their positions in order to stand for what is right. We catch glimpses in moments of mercy and reconciliation. And yet, we also see shadows. We see refugees —children—still searching for a safe place to call home. We see a growing culture of dishonesty, of greed, of racism, of hatred of the other. We hear of violence and war in too many corners of the globe. We witness divisions in our own neighborhoods, in our own nation, as people turn on one another.
This in-between time can be disorienting. It can tempt us toward fear, or even resignation. After all, if Christ has come, if the light has already dawned, then why does the darkness still feel so strong? That’s the tension Paul is pointing to concerning our Christian life: we live in a world where the morning has begun, the sun is rising, but where the darkness still lingers.
And I think for us and for the Ephesians, it’s hard to make sense of it. In light of Christ’s promises, why does humanity still experience so much darkness at?
Paul is clear to the Ephesians, and to us, that we do not know when this in-between time will come to an end and the new time fully revealed… it will be as a thief in the night, he says…when we least expect it. So the question that we are left with as Christians, as followers of Jesus, is this – How then shall we live during this in-between time?
Television, movies, and novels have been pursuing this question over recent years. And they’ve been doing so by creating fictional, in-between worlds and stories. The number one television show in America takes place in an “in-between” apocalyptic world. Two of the best-selling book trilogies in the past decade, The Hunger Games and Divergent, take place in a world that has lost its way and needs redeeming.
What’s very interesting about these shows and stories is that they all share a similar underlying theme, and it goes something like this: Resources our minimal. Governments are either nonexistent, authoritarian, or oppressive. Worldly man-made systems do not matter anymore. People are struggling to find shelter and safety. The world is fractured, and things are getting progressively worse. [Pause] In some areas of the world today… this is not fiction… it is reality.
What these books and stories do, while seemingly far-fetched, is this – they present us with a raw and honest picture of the human condition. The characters in these stories come face to face with their own humanity mixed with the realities of our world… and they’re often presented with a choice. How will they live during this time? Will they run for the hills, or face it head on? Will they live as children of darkness and fear, or children of light and hope? Will they come together, or remain in their cloisters?
Paul writes to the Ephesians: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Paul is reminding us that We are called to live into the hope that is promised to us by God, through Jesus Christ. We are children of God, and therefore, children of light. We have been called by God to live a life that emulates the love and peace of Christ through every time and every season… … but especially during this in-between. Paul’s letter also reminds us that Peace and Security come from God, not from manmade establishments. We are in God’s hands, not in the hands of fragile infrastructures. Therefore, he says… be who you were called to be, and even more so in times of distress and in times of darkness. Keep the light on! Shine hope during restless times, do not be afraid… comfort the afflicted and be the peacemakers in a time of dissention and hostility towards neighbors.
Friends, I need to be honest with you this morning. Sometimes, it’s tempting to look at the needs of the world around us and become overwhelmed. We struggle to find the way to respond to the darkness… and instead of reaching out, we begin to reach in.
There is a clear and honest temptation during this in-between to take care of our own. I got mine, you got yours. There is a temptation to crawl into our corner of the universe and avoid what’s happening around us. We want to sort of grab our pillow and sleep through it. (do you ever feel this way… I do… My time spent on news feeds has considerably diminished over the past 8 months.) It’s tempting to put the pillow over our heads and think to ourselves – “This will blow over… It’s just gonna take a little time.” “I’ve got enough to deal with…and how can I help make it better anyway?” In response to this temptation, Paul implores us to stay awake… not to hide from the darkness or be removed from it… Stay awake, he says… and Christ’s light will shine on. Stay awake, and Christ’s light will shine on you, church.
In a recent article by Diane Buttler Bass, she tells a story about coming back home from an extended overseas unplugged trip. When she opens up her news feed, she is immediately overwhelmed by the political chaos, injustice, and cruelty. She believes we are experiencing what psychologists call moral injury—the pain of watching things we know are wrong and feeling powerless to stop them.
And she points to that feeling as a good thing. Because feeling that pain means you still have a soul. “If you feel bad,” she writes, “it means you haven’t yet been broken. It means your moral core has not been breached.” That’s precisely where Paul meets us in Ephesians. Walking in the light does not mean pretending everything is fine. It means refusing to let the darkness numb us into complicity. It means holding onto the conviction that God’s light is still real, even when the world is trying to convince us otherwise.
In our gospel passage this morning, Jesus tells the disciples who they are: 13 “You are the salt of the earth; 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Light chases darkness down… into every end and every corner… Darkness cannot hide from it. Light’s job every morning is to bring us new mercies… Each day, when that sun rises, we are reminded that the night only lasts for a time… that the world is alive and well… and darkness will not have the last word.
The light of Christ is moving… shining… and bringing hope and peace into every challenging situation. Church, our vocation is to do the same thing. Jesus invites us to let our light shine in the darkness so that the world might know, while in this in-between time, that Jesus Christ is indeed very much alive and well… and that he is alive and well in and through us. We are light bearers…Which means that even in an overwhelming world, we are called to resist numbness, and to keep bearing witness to God’s truth, and God’s love.”
When we meet together to worship in this place every week, we are keeping the light on…
When we support Philps Academy and Nations Ford Elementary Financially and physically, we are keeping the light on.
When we grow our relationship with each other… bearing one another’s burdens, praying for one another.. Learning together… growing together… we are keeping the light on.
When you take time to grow in your own faith through Christian education, in the Thursday class, Wednesday class, Sons of Tamaus, women’s groups, and more, you are keeping the light on
When our members reach out into the community through non-profit work, we’re keeping the light on
When our Prayer and Care team and other members send cards, make phone calls, or visit the sick and the hurting… we are shining Christ’s light.
When Phil Tappy and his welcome team greet people with a handshake and a nametag, saying “Welcome… we’re glad you’re here.” We’re keeping the light on the church.
When we work together with the WDS to put on VBS, when we play family fun nights, when we work to support our young families, children, and youth… We are keeping the light on.
When we serve in-home communion at our retirement communities, we’re keeping the light on
When our young people practice goodness and mercy in school – befriending the friendless… and accepting those students on the edges, we are keeping the light on.
When we do our best to forgive each other and seek reconciliation in here… and out there… we are shining Christ’s light.
And: When you are getting help for whatever challenges you are going through in life… when you believe that you are worth it… to find help… You are keeping the light on…
Church, we are salt… we are light… And light shines… it can’t help but do so.
Diana Butler Bass… also touches on the Serenity Prayer in her article and how it can inform us in this season. She particularly speaks on the phrase “Accepting the things I cannot change and changing the things I can. She writes, “Accepting the things I cannot change doesn’t mean being passive or complicit. It means recognizing that I’m not God, I’m not that powerful, I’m just one limited human being. I get that… But, there are things I can change. Those things that I am called to do, relationships in my part of the world. I can give, volunteer, write, be generous and kind, stay informed, tend to my soul and my own fears and griefs. I can even take some risks. I can still vote. I can speak out. I can do my work well. I can love. I can do good, even when it seems too little. I can’t do everything. But I can do those things right in front of me.”
This is no easy calling… Keeping the light during this in-between time is hard. But we aren’t asked to do it alone. We shine light together, with the support and encouragement of each other… we do so through the power of the Holy Spirit. So be encouraged this day… and be strengthened by God… for YOU ARE the light of the world.