July 10, 2020
Brothers and Sisters,
(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 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.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” I’ve been a believer (saved) for over 50 years, so I can relate to what Paul is saying here. The time I’ll be leaving here is a whole lot nearer now than it was when I received Jesus as my personal Savior as a 9 year old boy. Every day that you and I live, we are one day closer to the time when we will be moving out of this world and into eternity. Therefore, it is high time to awake out of sleep.
Most people living today don’t give much thought concerning eternity. They are only interested in living their lives in the here and now. They are always looking for the next thrill. I would call them lovers of pleasures. The Bible tells us that this is the way it would be in the last days. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
In Romans 13, Paul tells us how we should live during these last days. First, he says, “let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light”. What are these works of darkness? Paul gives Timothy a list of these works of darkness, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. This is a long list and Paul said, “from such turn away”. As we live our lives out in this world, it would do us all good to “cast away” these works of darkness and “from such turn away”.
Next, Paul says we should walk honestly, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering (cohabitation) and wantonness (other vices), not in strife and envying. Walking honestly in life is a virtue that we should all aspire to. As we see all of the rioting and drunkenness in the world today, we should be careful to not find ourselves getting caught up in these things.
Then finally, Paul instructs us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. This is a daily decision each of us should make. It is so easy to get caught up in fulfilling the desires of the flesh, but we all know that the pleasure this brings is only temporary. God’s great men of the past recognized this and no one better than Moses. (Hebrews 11:24-26) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt (a type of the world): for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward (eternal life in heaven).
So, let us awake out of sleep and cast off the works of darkness putting on the Lord Jesus Christ choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season because now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Bro. Rick
