Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of
life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the
new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 It is always so wonderful to get away and vacation but sometimes not
much changes.  Although being at a campground is to be relaxing and
trouble free sometimes it doesn't happen that way.  No matter where you
are your Christian senses can be assaulted.
 Fortunately for us it wasn't a big problem.  On Thursday night a set of
three families took the three spots behind our trailer and began to set
up camp.  They were a bit noisy most of the night but we just figured it
was because they were simply busy setting up their camp.  Evidently not!
On Friday morning we got up and headed out to visit Taquamenon Falls.  It
was a beautiful rather carefree day, riding a small train and then taking
a boat ride.  We even drove up to the park after that and walked the
trails to the falls.  We got back rather late and it was then that we
discovered that perhaps we had missed the excitement.
 Thank goodness we got back late.  One of the first things I noticed was
the "uproar" coming from the camps behind us.  (I guess I should explain
that the sites at this park are rather tight, so people are pretty
compacted.)  I almost immediately told Raetta that we wouldn't be having
a fire that night simply because the language emanating from the camps
behind us was so utterly horrid and I didn't want to have to sit around
and hear it.  I could have gone over and spoken to the families but trust
me, it would have been pointless.
 I say that because as I was making sure our camp was secure for the
night I couldn't help but hear the bickering next door.  They were
complaining about what a lousy campground it was, specifically that there
were too many rules.  Evidently during the day, they and their children
had raised such a ruckus that the campground hosts had already visited a
couple of times to get them to have courtesy for their neighbors.  It was
clear these families thought that was stupid.  They wanted to do whatever
and have everybody else live with it.  They wanted to do whatever loudly,
drunkenly and with totally horrid language.  Not just the adults...the
kids too!  I can't tell you how happy the other campers were, when the
next morning these families packed up and left.
 I was amazed.  I couldn't believe that here were these three families
without any regard for those around them!  I couldn't believe the example
that the parents were setting for their children!  Well, actually I could
believe it, after all we had heard and seen their actions.  People who
were only out for themselves.  People who from the scope of their
conversation didn't think to look at their actions but rather just blamed
and bad mouthed everyone around them.  People who are the very epitome of
what our text said of the godless!  Where Paul says, "They are darkened
in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the
ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having
lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as
to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."
It was sad to see.
 But I have to confess that it got me to thinking.  What if normally
these are really nice people who when "away from home" just cut loose?
What if these families were members of a church and again they just like
to cut loose every once in awhile?  And then the scariest thought of
all..."Do I have members of my congregation who act and behave in that
way?"
 How wonderful that our Lord provides us with this reading and lesson.
Our theme will be: LIVING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.  1st. A line is drawn.
2nd. Put off the Old Self.  3rd. Put on the New Self.
 It is clear that the Apostle Paul as he teaches the wonders of Jesus has
begun a new lesson.  It is a lesson that is contingent on the message of
Jesus, the message that says that we are saved by grace through faith.
It is this message of eternal salvation in Jesus that forms the heart and
core of what Paul now addresses.  He has spoken of our salvation in
Christ and now he wants to speak about living as Children of light,
living as people touched by and totally affected by the wonders and
marvels of our Savior.
 Please note how Paul begins this section.  He says point blank, "you
must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their
thinking."  Clearly Paul is addressing the issue of sin and temptations.
Clearly Paul is addressing this issue despite the fact that he is talking
with people who are believers in Jesus, who are forgiven in Christ, who
are members of God's household and heirs of eternal life.  But in
speaking this way he is clearly drawing a line.
 The line is simple.  You cannot claim to be a Christian and then live
like the heathen!  You cannot claim to a believer in Jesus and then
ignore, despise or reject any teaching of God's Word for any reason.  You
cannot insist on living like the world in the darkness of sin and yet
claiming to be a child of light!  That this is a clear line is seen by
the opening words, "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord."
 Now I want you to understand that Paul is not unaware of the problems
and temptations of life.  The Ephesians were surrounded by a society that
considered godlessness the norm.  The Ephesians lived in a society where
you could go to your local temple (a false church) and engage in sexual
immorality with the priests and priestesses.  Or you could simply walk
down the street and be confronted with all sorts of spiritual temptations
that might destroy your soul, things considered normal for the
enlightened Roman citizen.  Paul knew about the temptations and attitudes
of the world.  He described them clearly: darkened in their
understanding, separated from the life of God, hardened in their hearts,
having lost all sensitivity" and wanting even more wickedness."
 I don't think what was going on then is any different than what is going
on now, with this exception.  Because of the media, TV, radio, the
internet, etc. a lot of this stuff has direct access to our homes.  We
don't have to go out and look for temptations anymore, they are right in
our homes.  And what amazes me is that though many of us would never
invite into in our homes the thief, the prostitute, the drug dealers and
other godless people yet we regularly let such in to entertain us via the
media.  We need to draw a line.  The line is that we are not to live in
the futility of godlessness, in the ways of the world and in the path of
destruction.
 Rather Paul says, "You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the
truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way
of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
deceitful desires."  Put off the Old Self, we are told.  The Old Self is
a reference to our sinful nature, to that part of us that likes sin and
thinks that the ways of the world are fine and dandy.  But notice what is
said here.  First, the Old Self is put in contrast to "the truth that is
in Jesus."  In Jesus we know better.  In Jesus we understand the horror
and danger of sin.  We have the truth of Jesus.  And should we decide
that sin is better than Jesus, well, you can surely grasp the
implications of such thinking.
 The implication is laid out in the words, "which is being corrupted by
its deceitful desires."  The Old self is a path of destruction.  The old
self is corrupting, destroying and eroding our very soul's salvation.
When we indulge the old self, we are corrupting and destroying our souls
and our faith.
 For this reason we are encouraged, stronger yet, we are insistently
commanded to put off the Old Self.  How?  Think of what our Catechism
tells us.  Think especially of the meaning and lessons of your baptism.
In the 4th part of Baptism Luther instructs: Fourth; What does baptism
with water mean?  Baptism means that the old Adam in us should be drowned
by daily contrition and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and
desires be put to death.  It also means that a new person should daily
arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever."  We put
off the old Adam, the old self by daily contrition and repentance.  We
are daily sorry for our sins and daily desire that we overcome our sins.
To put off the old self means that we fight against sin, wrestle against
temptations, and run to Jesus for strength and help.  In other words,
putting off the Old self is a matter of putting on the new self.
 Paul continues by saying, "to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness
and holiness."  Here is where everything comes together and makes sense.
Here is where Jesus and his saving, gracious power is found.
 We have heard of Jesus and were taught in him.  We have his holy Word
that guides and directs us in the paths and wonders of God.  That's
exactly what our text is telling us when it says, "to be made new in the
attitude of your minds."  In Jesus we become different.  The first thing
we do is grasp the horror of sin, realize how it has separated us from
God and how God in grace has brought us back to him in Jesus.  That's
right, if we don't grasp and understand our salvation in Jesus, how Jesus
paid for our sins, how Jesus lived the righteous life we can't, how Jesus
clothes us with himself so that heaven and eternal life is ours, then all
of this means nothing.  It is Jesus and his message of grace that changes
us.  It is Jesus and his gift of eternal life founded in the truth of his
Word that lifts us and brings about a whole new attitude in our hearts.
 The attitude is one that simply says, "I want to live to please Jesus."
I don't do this because I want to get something from Jesus rather I do it
because I already have everything in Jesus.  Imagine that you have fallen
into a rather full outhouse hole.  You can't get out.  It is clear you
are going to die.  Along comes someone who pulls you to safety and
cleanses you of the filth.  What will you do?  The new attitude says that
I am beholding to my rescuer and that I will with thanksgiving serve him
with my life.  The old self say, "Thanks, now get out of my face and
don't be trying to tell me what to do."  The old self may even try to
throw the rescuer into the pit.  I don't even have to ask which attitude
is right and which is wrong, do I?
 Jesus has rescued us.  He has given us a new life.  What does he ask?
Serve God.  Strive to do what is good and right in life.  Uphold the
truth of God and give God the praise and glory he alone deserves.
Simplest of all, Jesus says, "Stay out of the hole!"  And what is
wonderful in all of this is that every time we foolishly fall in, Jesus
pulls us out and cleans us up.  What you want to be careful of is the
attitude that says, "I can jump in, because Jesus will rescue me."
Jumping in implies you want to be in the hole, that you think the hole is
wonderful and good.  Then I think you may have a Jesus problem.
 God has been so gracious and loving to us.  He has rescued us in Jesus
and caused us to be his children, heirs of eternal life, those who live
in light rather than darkness.  May you hear and consider the
encouragement we find here.  Encouragement to be new in Jesus.  God will
help us in this.  Amen.