Veiled in the cover of darkness and intent on pure evil, a lone masked gunman interrupted the lives of thousands in Aurora, Colorado.
The setting was a ‘late night movie’, the opening day for a blockbuster release featuring a popular, well loved super-hero…Batman. Many across this nation joined in this event; at this same time, even in this same town. But the movie theater known as Century 16 was marked as a target, and 71 individual lives were scarred and/or taken by a senseless, dark, act of evil.
Words fail as we try to wrap our mind around such a senseless tragedy. TV anchors struggle to think of the right questions and ultimately fall back on, “We’re so sorry for your loss.” But what else can we say? Are there any words we can turn to for comfort and direction during these deprived times? Pictures of weeping family members and friends have been seen holding onto loved ones. Leaning on the neck of those who care and seeking compassion is what we desire in times of disaster. We have seen images of friends giving comfort (and a shoulder) in the aftermath of such great pain.
But what about you; do you seek someone to lean on when you can’t stand on our own? Without a clear understanding of this life we will cry out in pain, and light a candle in memory but then simply move on to tomorrow. Is that where you are? Is that what you want? If you truly seek understanding, and if you honestly want to find peace and comfort…you can.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus as to how they could find comfort in a world of sin and darkness. Ephesians 5:1-20 “Follow God’s example…there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them…everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Certainly you know the best time to sleep is during in the dark hours of the night. Our bodies need to rest and regain strength spent during the ‘working hours’. But perhaps too many of us are enjoying the night life and sleeping through the day; exchanging day light for darkness. Look again at what Paul calls ‘partners of darkness’; *sexual immorality, *any kind of impurity, *greed, *obscenity, *foolish talk, *coarse joking, *an immoral person, *an impure person, *a greedy person. Each of these characteristics belongs to those who do not have an ‘inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.’
So if this description is me, if these characteristics look like my life, what do I need to do? How can I find comfort from the darkness? Paul’s words are pretty clear in verse 14 of Ephesians 5, “Wake up!” There needs to be a change in our ‘sleeping pattern’. We need to be making the most of each day, exposing what is evil and shining a light of godliness in a dark and dying world. That is the ‘shoulder’ a hurting nation is searching for; Christ is the one who provides our strength and comfort.
In 1999 thirteen lives were lost in the tragic “Columbine High School Shooting”. Incredibly less than 20 miles separated the tragic of Columbine and the loss at Century 16. But in 1989, ten years before our country wept for Columbine, Ken Young penned a song that we need to learn and sing in our churches today. With Ephesians 5 as his foundation, Ken wrote the following song of encouragement:
“My God has said His light will shine;
His light will shine in hearts of man.
The fruitless deeds of darkness past:
revealed by Christ with glorious hand.
Chorus:
Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. (repeat chorus)
The fruits of light His Spirit gives
are goodness, truth and righteousness.
A new day breaks and all is clear;
give thanks to God, in Jesus Christ.
Chorus:
Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. (repeat chorus)
God’s word is light! Have you read what He has to tell you? Let these inspired words from Paul to the church in Rome be a closing reminder of the need we have to ‘wake up’! Romans 13:11-13… “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”