The semestral Christ Emphasis Week at Central Philippine University has opened last Friday, October 21, 2022, with the Theme: “Awakened” and the Scripture Text found in Ephesians 5:14 to 17.
Paul wrote, “This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Paul was quoting Isaiah 26:19 and Isaiah 60:1
What is it that we should rise up from? What is being dead for Paul?
Being dead while alive means that we are living a sinful life. Being dead is also being foolish and not understanding the will of God. Being dead is also living a careless life. Being dead is being unwise. Being dead is being drunk with debauchery. This is the definition of Paul of what is a dead life. He enumerated these things in Ephesians 5:15 and the following verses.
If we are living this kind of life, then we are spiritually dead. We need to wake up. But we cannot wake up on our own. We cannot save ourselves. Only someone who has resurrected from the dead can wake us up. It is only Jesus Christ that can wake up the those who are sleeping, and those who are dead.
Paul is using an analogy of the sun that is shining its rays and giving out energy. Jesus is the sun, and His resurrected power shines upon those who are dead in sin. The result is our awakening. We, too, are resurrected by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul in the succeeding verses tell us of what a victorious life should be — we are filled with the Spirit, singing psalms, hymns, and making music from our hearts to the Lord, and always giving thanks to God for everything. Moreover, husbands and wives must submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Children should also obey their parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Children should honor their father and mother. In the same manner, parents should not exasperate their children but should bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Let us live “awakened” lives!
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications