night and day

Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near.  Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 

I think our general sense is that our three score and ten years living on the planet in the flesh are the primary time of our lives.  We push through challenging days of working , raising families, building community, worshiping of our Lord.  Certainly these are rich days of experience in every dimension of life as we have known it.  But Paul tells us in Romans chapter 13 that this really is the "night" of our existence and we have not yet seen the "day", though it draws closer.  In verse 11 he exhorts believers that "it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep".  All of the previous verses of this chapter are loaded with practical advice for living in the world...living in such a way that the reality of God is demonstrated to others, whether in government and ruling over us, or living next to us as neighbors.  We are living in the days of "night" because darkness rules the hearts of most men and Satan has a measured presence across our world.  Still to come are the true days full of light when we will no longer need a sun to illuminate us because of the brightness of His radiance.  Now is the time when we need perseverance.  We need to work the "night shift" because dawn is about to break.  Day is coming!

 

blessings,

Rob Smith