Ephesians 5:8-14

Have you ever bought a gift that didn’t quite turn out the way you hoped?
A man once bought his wife a jewelry box that was supposed to glow in the dark. Romantic, right? Well, after waiting eagerly for nightfall and turning out the lights, they discovered the box didn’t glow at all. Disappointed, they almost gave up—until they noticed some French writing on the side. They asked a friend to translate it. I’ll tell you what it said at the end of this post.

But first, let’s talk about something much more serious: a movement sweeping across our culture today—the Deconstruction of Faith.

Many people who grew up in church are systematically questioning and rejecting the very foundations of Christianity. Some are abandoning core truths:

• That Jesus was born of a virgin,

• That He is the only way to heaven,

• That the Bible is truly God’s Word.

This isn’t about whether someone wears jeans to church or if a man grows his hair long. Those are preference issues, not salvation issues. No, the deconstruction happening today strikes at the very heart of Christianity—truths that have stood unshaken for over 2,000 years.

Shockingly, about 37% of professing Christians now relate to the idea of having “deconstructed” the faith they once held.
Meanwhile, about 30% of Americans claim “none” as their religious identity.
Add to that a group called the “Dones”—those simply done with church altogether—and it’s easy to feel discouraged about the future.

But here’s the good news: God is not done!

A Movement Among the Young

While some drift away, something powerful is happening, especially among younger generations—Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha.

On secular college campuses across the country, we’re seeing mass revivals break out:

• At Auburn University, thousands surrendered their lives to Jesus and were baptized publicly.

• Right here at WKU, students wrote out the entire Gospel of John in chalk across campus sidewalks.

While many are deconstructing, God is reconstructing. He is awakening a hunger in the hearts of young people for truth, for something real, authentic, and lasting.
They don’t want institutionalized religion.
They don’t want hypocrisy.
They want Jesus.

Six Signs That God Is Still at Work

You may wonder: How can we tell when God is working? Look around—you’ll see these six signs:

1. Conviction of Sin Among Believers
   When people feel a deep sorrow for their sin and a yearning to turn back to God, that’s the Holy Spirit moving.

2. A Heightened Desire for Spiritual Disciplines
   Bible studies are springing up in coffee shops and fast-food joints. Young people are hungry to study the Word and pray together.

3. Missionary Zeal
   There’s a new fire to live on mission, to make Jesus known wherever they go.

4. Ground Zero for Apologetics
   More young believers are learning how to defend their faith—knowing why they believe what they believe.

5. Increased Conversions and Salvations
   Lost souls are finding their way back home through Christ. Sleepy Christians are waking up, too!

6. Beautification of the Church
   Nothing beautifies a church like seeing lives transformed by the power of God.

When these things happen, we can be sure—God is moving.

How Should We Respond?

Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 how to live as people of the light:

1. Walk in the Light

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

We were once darkness—not just in darkness—but darkness itself.
When Christ saved us, He transformed us. We didn’t just get a better version of ourselves—we became new creations.
And now, we must live differently.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
Our lives should shine so brightly that people can see the difference—and be drawn to the God who changed us.

Walking in the light means:

• Doing what is good, right, and true.

• Seeking to please God, not ourselves.

• Refusing to join in the fruitless deeds of darkness.

• Exposing sin—not with judgment, but simply by living as light.

We are not called to condemn.
We are not the judges.
We are called to shine.

When we live out our faith authentically, we make Jesus visible to a watching world.

2. Wake Up!

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)

Many believers are sleepwalking through life—content, distracted, apathetic.
But it’s time to wake up.
Every day is a gift. Every day is a new opportunity to reflect Jesus to a world desperate for hope.

Romans 13:11 reminds us:

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”

Today is the day to live wide awake—to live on mission.

Stay in the Light

Remember that jewelry box story I shared at the beginning?
The French inscription said this:

“If you want me to shine in the night, keep me in the light.”

Church, if you want to shine in this dark world, stay in the light.
Stay close to Jesus—the Light of the World.
Walk with Him.
Spend time with Him.
Reflect Him.

The world doesn’t need more religion.
The world needs more light.
The world needs more Jesus.

So let’s wake up, church.
Let’s walk in the light.
Let’s be the light.
And let’s trust God to shine through us—brighter than we could ever imagine.