THE NIGHT IS SPENT, THE DAY IS AT HAND

Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

The constant reminder of the brevity of life should drive the conduct of every Christian. It is the great motivator to live an obedient life in the eyes of God, our Creator, and the Author of our salvation. At any moment of time, we know not what the next moment will bring. The Day of Judgment could come at any moment. In the twinkling of an eye, Jesus Christ could descend; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). And, if not the Day of Judgment, at any moment life could cease. Physical death is as close to us as our next breath.

With full realization of the nearness of the end of time, or the end of life, all Christians should know that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. Now is the time! Not tomorrow, next week, or next year, but Now is the time to awake from living a careless, complacent, and indifferent life as a Christian. Now, at this very moment, the day of our salvation is nearer than when we believed - that is, when we first believed, was baptized into the body of Christ, and became a Christian. Each moment we live is one moment closer to that day. In the lesson text, Paul is telling all Roman Christians, as well as all Christians today, to wake up; there is much to be done to prepare for the Day of Salvation.

In this teaching, Paul infers that some Christians are prepared for eternal salvation, and some are not. They are as different as night and day. Night and darkness signify the lack of knowledge; they also signify indifference to knowledge that has already been attained. Once in the body of Christ, Paul says that the night is far spent. Once enlightened with knowledge of the will of God, and motivated by the brevity of life, Christian indifference should cease because the day is at hand. Paul told the church at Thessalonica, but ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (1 Thess. 5:4-6). Paul pleads that all people are to understand the urgency of preparing for the day of salvation. When should one start this preparation? It is high time to start Now, wake up Now, Now is our salvation nearer than at any other time in our lives. He expressed this urgency when, quoting Isaiah 49:8, he told the church at Corinth, behold, now the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

What should be done to prepare for either the end of our physical life on earth, or for the end of time - what must we do to prepare for the Day of Salvation? Paul tells us in the remainder of the lesson text. First we should cast off the works of darkness. Jesus told us that, when the deeds of mankind are sinful, they seek to hide their evil under the cover of darkness (See John 3:19-21). Such is sinful, must be put away, and replaced with the armor of light. In Ephesians 6:11-18 Paul, fully explains the Christians armor that should be worn. The old man of darkness must be put off, and replaced with the new man of light (See Col. 3:10-17). Rioting, ...drunkenness, ...chambering, ...wantonness, ...strife, and enving are sins to be cast off.

Put on the armor of light. Put on the garment that all Christians are to wear for the world to see. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we are to put Him on, by being baptized into His body (Gal. 3:27), but also we must put on the righteous characteristics of our Savior. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:12-14). The Night is Spent, the Day is at Hand! Now is the time to prepare for the Day of Salvation!