By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
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 armour 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 fulfil the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:11-14
Have you ever overslept your alarm?
When I was about 20 years old, I remember receiving a phone call one Lord’s Day morning. I sprang out of bed, glanced at the clock, and was dumbfounded. Sleepily answering the phone, I heard my father-in-law’s concerned voice. I was supposed to be teaching my Adult Bible Class in a few minutes. When I didn’t show up, he phoned to be sure I was alright. Burning the candle at both ends, I had never even heard my alarm, and missed out on an important responsibility that day.
Similarly, the Spirit of God says to us, ‘It’s high time you wake up! I’m coming soon to take you home. Sleeping time is over. Get up!’
In response, we are urged to ‘cast off the works of darkness.’ Ask any officer and they’ll confirm that nighttime brings out the vices. Like taking off your night clothes, we ought to stop sinning, and ‘put on the armour of light.’
Light in the Bible stands for righteousness, goodness, and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9). These virtues act as armour which protects us (2 Corinthians 6:7) from all sorts of problems.
Therefore we are to ‘walk honestly’ which speaks of living in a decent and honourable way. This contrasts with the disgraceful lifestyle that characterises nighttime. It is dishonourable to party and take in intoxicating substances (‘rioting and drunkenness’). It is indecent to take part in unrighteous sexual behaviour (‘chambering and wantonness’). It is disreputable to selfishly quarrel, be indignant, or engage in rivalry (‘strife and envying’). These sorts of activities are not fitting for a Christian.
This brings us to the fourteenth verse. As our memory verse this week (Ephesians 4:24) commands, we are to put on the new man each day. Taking off the night clothes, we get dressed in our day clothes.
Furthermore, we are not to make ‘provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’ Our sinful natures are full of desires (‘lusts’) which must not be satisfied. The flesh lives by how it feels and by what it wants, instead of what is right, honourable, and pleasing to the Lord. The word provision speaks of forethought. Many sins are committed first in the mind as we meditate on something wrong which we want. He says, ‘Don’t allow yourself to think about sinful desires and you’ll be stronger against sin.’
What a wake-up call for us today!
Father, thank You for waking me up to the fact that my life is ebbing out. The time is fast approaching when You will take me home to live with You forever. I must live these short years of my lifetime in pursuit of Jesus Christ. Show me works of darkness which I need to abandon, and help me to live in a way that is honourable for Your pleasure. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.