AWAKE, ARISE, CHRIST SHALL GIVE THEE LIGHT
“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light:
for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph 5:
13-14)
In order to be reproved from
every false way we need light. That light
is Christ himself given us through the preaching of the light of the gospel.
Christ said, “I am the light of the world.” (Jn 9: 4-5) And it is through the
light of his gospel that God gives his people light—“the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the
Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us.” (2Co 4:5-7)
This is how Christ brings his people to
believe on him. As we hear the light of the glorious gospel of Christ preached the
Spirit of God reproves us effectually, “Wherefore
he saith, Awake thou that sleepest. Arise from the dead.” When he gives this
command he irresistibly awakens us, we arise and “Christ shall give thee light.”
Then
how the children of Light rejoice! What particular grace! Christ does not do
this for all, only for his redeemed! “Arise,
shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For,
behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but
the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isa
60:1-2)