“In which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).
“Walking” describes the conduct of one’s life and here Paul describes the life lived according to man’s sinful nature apart from God. The authority of the sinner’s life is described in three different ways. First it is a life lived “according to the course of this world.” This is a life which is lived with earthbound motives in contrast to the life that is lived with the kingship of God in mind. We need to keep in mind that this present world is already in the process of passing away.
Second, it is lived “according to the prince of the power of the air.” Paul is here describing the devil as an evil power with control in the fallen world (see Eph. 6:12). The devil is the enemy of Christ and of all his followers. His desire is to kill, steal, and destroy.
Third, Paul speaks of the power of “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” The life of the unsaved is not a self-controlled life, but one lived in subjection to the spirit which has the evil one as its source. When men are controlled by evil– whether consciously or not–they are rightly called the “sons of disobedience.”
Many non-Christians object to Christianity because it calls for man to live in subjection to Christ. They argue that they want to be in control of their own life. Truthfully, that option does not exist. For those who live apart from Christ ultimately live in subjection to the prince of the power of the air.
Prayer: Father, it is my desire to live for You today and every day. Amen