WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK
by: Al Macias
It is amazing to realize how many lessons we can learn from the writings of the apostle Paul, one of which is found in Ephesians 4:17-23. We read in this passage of Scripture:

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

    We find in this passage of scripture the apostle Paul telling the Ephesian brethren, and all Christians everywhere, certain things that we all must understand. First, that we are to no longer walk as we used to walk. The word "walk" in this case refers to the kind of life that we are living. We should no longer conduct ourselves as the Gentiles did. The walk of the Gentiles was the walk of the world. Those of the world walk in the vanity of their mind. These people fill their lives with all sorts of things which will take them nowhere at the end. Their lives have no place for God or for godly things.
    Paul described the lives of the Gentiles as having their understanding darkened, as being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them ­ and all of this because of the blindness of their hearts! The idea of having their understanding darkened was like having an eye that had become blind. However, this blindness is worse than physical blindness, because one knows when he is physically blind, but not so with spiritual blindness. Those who are spiritually blind are even blind to the fact that they are blind. In John 9:40,41, we find a case of some who were in this condition. They were spiritually blind, but did not know it; and thus remained in their sad condition. These people did not know that there was another way of living in this earth, a way of life that had been set forth by God. This is something that even some Christians do not know today. Yes, we do have free will, and God allows us to choose the way we want to go; but God still wants us to choose His way and not the way of the world. One last thing that we find in this passage of Scripture is that there are many who do not live the way God has commanded us because of the ignorance that is in them. The truth of the matter is that most of the people that exist today have almost no idea what God expects from them as they live in this earth. Millions upon millions live in ways that are absolutely contrary to the will of God. Millions worship in ways that are in conflict to the will of God. Millions are so lost in this world that they have no idea where they are heading; and that is why we, like Paul, have such a tremendous obligation to teach all people the way they should go, so that some day they will be in heaven, where we also expect to be.