Each of us is one day closer to eternity when the sun rises in the morning. Our old lives, the ones before we became a Christian, recede further and further into the rear view mirror of our lives. Those old dark days don't define us anymore. That doesn't mean they don't cause trouble for us now and then. We walk each day realizing that the darkness we came from can creep back in if we aren't careful.
"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: 12-14
The Day Is At Hand
Romans 13:12 begins by saying, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand:". This phrase can be either speaking of our growing nearer to death, or it may be referring to the return of the Lord, because "the day", is often spoken of as "the Day of the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 2:2). In either case, we understand this to mean that our time of joining the Lord is sooner rather than later. Because of this the time is short. It is time to be awake and we have work to do. Now is the time to be warriors.
Cast Off Darkness
Paul continues and says, "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness". We are to cast off the works of darkness like old clothes. Those works of darkness we used to participate in need to be thrown off without delay. Just as in today's society, the Roman Christians lived in a pagan, godless culture. The converts to Christianity in the Roman church may have found it difficult to completely separate from that culture, just as Christians today do. Paul goes on to say, "let us put on the armor of light". The new creation that we have become needs new clothing - an armor of light. It takes light to fight darkness. Jesus shines light in the darkness.
Armor Of Light
In the day time we fight as warriors of light. Armed, yes, with truth. This is not the wimpy idea that somehow we just magically become sanctified and holy when we receive the Holy Spirit. Truly without Christ we can do nothing. It is His light that we put on, His light that is our armor against the forces of Satan. Fighting with courage, respect, loyalty, competence, obedience and effort was required of Roman soldiers (according to Cairn International). Christians must show the same virtues. We are no match for the darkness without our armor. It is a life's struggle to become holy, to become like Christ.
In Ephesians 6: 10-18, Paul describes in detail the whole armor of God. Paul also reminds us in I Thessalonians 5: 5-8, that as Christians we are sons of light and sons of the day. We no longer belong to darkness or night. He says that we should not sleep but be soberly watchful. He says that as sober people of the day we should be "putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." This is our armor of light.
Walk Properly
Now that we have our armor, we can walk as we should. In Romans 13:13, Paul says, "Let us walk properly as in the day;". At night, in darkness, is where much evil is done. In the daytime, in the light, we know others see us. People can see who we really are. Paul wants us, at all times, to live as if we were in the light of day. And notice that we are not sitting still. Paul calls us to walk. When we walk about, we are doing work, not lying around uselessly.
Don't Live In These Things
Paul lists six things that we should not be living in: revelry and drunkenness, lewdness and lust, and strife and envying. The ISV translation translates the list like this: wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! These are words we are more familiar with. As a Christian are some of us still getting drunk at parties, engaging in sex with whoever, getting in fights, or jealous or envious of what others have? Paul says this should no longer be happening. What should we do?
Put On Christ
In Romans 13:14 Paul tells us what we should do. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,". This means, quite literally, to wear Christ as one would wear a suit of clothes. We are to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:24). It is He who will be our garment eternally. Greek writers would sometimes use the expression to "put on" someone, meaning to copy their example, to strive in all ways to be like them, to use them as your instructor. So in this case we are to imitate Jesus, obey Him and learn from Him. His characteristics need to become ours.
No Provisions For The Flesh
Then Paul says to, "make no provision for the flesh,". In this verse, the word provision means the act of preparing for future needs. We are not supposed to make provision for our flesh, our sinful desires. Our fleshly desires are to be denied. We aren't supposed to do anything that would help us, or prepare us, to sin. For example, if drinking is a problem for you, don't go to drinking parties. If sex is a problem for you, don't plan a romantic night alone at your apartment with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Our provision comes from God. He provides for our real needs. He provides our armor to fight our battles.
Lust Of The Flesh
Paul concludes this verse by saying, "to fulfill the lusts thereof." Roman society focused on gratifying the sins of the flesh. In Roman society they lived by the same motto many do today, "If it feels good do it." Christians are supposed to be a separate people. We are supposed to understand what it really means to love someone and that doesn't mean to use them for sexual gratification. Galatians 5:16 reminds us that if we walk in the Spirit we won't "fulfill the lust of the flesh".
Temptation Can Affect Anyone
Paul's warnings were to us all. No matter how 'good' a Christian you are, no matter how sanctified you may have become, no matter how Christlike, we must always remain vigilant against temptation. Just look at some of the prominent Christian preachers who have fallen to temptations that have destroyed their lives and their ministries.
We Must Fight
So Paul is saying the struggle is real. Being a Christian isn't easy. But God in His mercy has given us an "armor of light" to fight the battle with. We can't fight our battles by being complacent, or lazy, or expecting God to just fill us with holiness while we do nothing. The ancient church father, Augustine, was moved by this passage. He realized that he could live a different, separate life from the world, but only with God's help. But to do that also required something of him. He had to fight. Today we also have to be diligent Christians who put on the "whole armor of God". We have a job to do and the day is at hand!
Comments