Awake out of Sleep

And that, knowing the times, 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. –Romans 13:11,12

Tomorrow is the Lord’s Day. Will you go into the house of the Lord seeking Him, thirsting for Him? Or will you be distracted by the thoughts running through your mind or by the fatigue of a long and busy week? It is so easy to lose our focus, to become lazy in our attention. But yet Paul reminds us to “awake out of sleep” and “put on the armour of light.”

Satan tempts us in so many ways. He preys on the Church to destroy her and will do anything to separate her from her Bridegroom. He does this in obvious ways, such as tempting us with the “rioting and drunkenness” of the world around us. But He also does this in subtle ways. He is good at keeping us busy, keeping us concerned with the stressors of our lives. When we are so caught up with the demands, stressors, and the entertainments of everyday life, the harder it is to make time and attention for God’s Word. The more focused we become on everything we are involved with on this earth, the easier it can be to lose our focus on Who put us on this earth and to what purpose. And even when our spirit is willing, our flesh is so often weak, and fatigue and weariness can sap our attention.

However, this pilgrimage is “but for a moment” (2 Corinthians 4:17) and the weight of glory awaiting us is so much greater than the things we focus on in this life. And that day is fast approaching. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” God gives us only so many moments here on earth, and with every passing minute we are one step closer to the end of our pilgrimage here. Our salvation is near. May we not waste a second!

God is the purpose of your life, now and forever. Put on your spiritual armor! Don’t let Satan’s temptations to tune God out win. As you enter the house of worship tomorrow, pay attention. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:14) that you may walk in the light and by grace experience the righteousness, peace, and joy of fellowship with our Lord (Rom.14:17).

Abby Huizing