Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-18)
Lockdown is back for half of Sydney. It’s been just over a year since we emerged from our last lockdown, and now as we thought normality was just returning, we start again in square one. Church is closed, we’re stuck at home, and we are watching the rest of the world collapse all because of a small invisible virus. What should we do? How should we respond?
We must understand that the Christian life is always a spiritual war. Satan will do anything possible to distract us from God and distance our relationship with Him. Whether we are living in comfort or suffering, Satan wants to pull us from one thing, that is, spending time with God and ultimately glorifying Him. Satan wants our lives to humiliate God. He wants us to fall so that God’s name is shamed. With some of us getting locked inside our homes and most of us unable to meet and congregate at church in person, the struggle is only about to get a whole lot harder.
A lot of things can go about in your own house and your own bedroom. With all our weekly activities slowly reverting online, a lot of time has crept into our lives. Moreover, with no more rushed mornings ahead as well as school holidays, snuggling into our favourite comfort zones under our blankets in our pj’s seems to be an up-and-coming prospect for the next few days.
However, with all these things, we must not be foolish but understand what is really going on. It’s a war and the days are evil; they always have been. With our surplus time at home, Satan will try to distract us from our relationship with God and lure us into endless and worthless time-wasting. He longs to make idleness our main event as we stay inside these school holidays, and in these moments, he will tempt us to fall into sin. We must not be foolish, and we must not think of this lightly. This is a very important matter because if we decide to let our guard down today and succumb to our bodily desires for comfort, pleasure and ‘chill’, Satan will steal all our time away to be wasted.
I am not saying that we cannot take time to rest or to relax. There are times for those things. However, because we are now at home instead of at church, we must make sure we don’t let our spiritual guard down. We must still listen to God’s Word. We must focus on what matters. We must continue to serve God. Lockdown does not mean a holiday. Just because we have been isolated does not mean we stop praying for our church and those around us. This life is only once, and we live it to know God and serve Him. Don’t let lockdown derail that.
Although our circumstances may change, maintain a fervent heart constantly seeking His Word. v. 17 calls us not to be foolish, instead to “understand what the will of the Lord is”. In this context, the text is talking about understanding God’s written will in the Bible. It is a simple call to know God’s Word and to obey it. With the ample time, we now have, use it to spend time in God’s Word. Get acquainted with it because we were created for a relationship with God, and that relationship only comes from listening and obeying His Words. Our relationship with God is the very thing Satan wants to take from us. Do not give him opportunities by letting our guard down. Moreover, keep praying for all those around you. You are not the only one in this battle. Remember your brothers and sisters in Christ who fight this battle with You.
In the end, we must rely on God’s strength and power. God is the one who can direct our hearts to Him and keep our hearts close to Him. We fall so easily, and before we know it, we have fallen into one of Satan’s tricks. Ask God to help you and your fellow brothers and sisters to use these lockdown times effectively. Even though we are in our homes, the war rages on. We must continue to grow in our relationship with God. Others out there also must be reached with the gospel? How will you use your lockdown holidays?
Lord, though we are young, please teach us to be wise. Teach us to understand the spiritual battle we constantly face as Christians. Satan longs to make our faiths stumble, and he will try whatever means to make that happen. You know we aren’t strong enough, Lord. Without You, there is no way we can withstand his blows. Help us in Your Truth. Keep us in Your Word and help us so that even though these times, we may continue to grow to obey You and serve You. We surrender all in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.