The Night Is Far Spent, The Day Is At Hand

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14 NKJV

Each morning, as we wear clothes to present ourselves to others, so do we put on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that we are vessels to manifest the life of Jesus Christ the Lord in the midst of the world where we're living. The condition of the world is in complete darkness. When we put on Jesus Christ we can walk in the light. Paul urges to do this: knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. This is true to the first century's Christians and us in this age as well.

"Do this" indicates that "Love your neighbor as yourself" found in the previous passage (Romans 13:8-10) There is no time to lose loving our neighbors. Who are our neighbors? It could be our families, friends, members in the church, next door people and community. Why is this so urgent? It is because the night is far spent, the day is at hand. It was the day when our Lord Jesus Christ was on the earth. Now it is the night since he was crucified and buried, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven. It has been nearly two thousand years. The night is nearly over. The Day of the Lord Jesus Christ is coming quickly, so be sober and love our neighbor diligently and faithfully as Jesus Christ loved us first. "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8 NKJV)

Loving the others who are unlovable is possible when we put on Christ Jesus who is love and gave His life for us. In order to put on Christ, first we must put off the old self by casting off the works of darkness. The works of darkness are in revelry and drunkenness, in lewdness and lust, and in strife and envy. It is not possible to put on both Christ and darkness. When we put on Christ we can walk in the light because He is the armor of light. It is possible to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts only when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ. "Put off the works of darkness and put on Christ Jesus the Lord."