Wake Up, Get Ready: Living in Light of Christ's Return

Wake Up, Get Ready: Living in Light of Christ's Return

In a world that often seems shrouded in darkness, there's an urgent call echoing through the ages - a call to wake up, to cast off the deeds of darkness, and to clothe ourselves in the light of Christ. This message, rooted in the powerful words of Romans 13:11-14, serves as a spiritual alarm clock for believers everywhere.

"Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."

These words paint a vivid picture of our spiritual reality. We live in the tension between two ages - the present evil age, represented by night, and the coming reign of Christ, symbolized by day. Though we still inhabit a fallen world, as believers, we no longer belong to it. The darkness is passing away, and the dawn is rapidly approaching.

But what does it mean to "wake up" spiritually? It's about shaking off complacency and spiritual laziness. It's realizing that our salvation - in its fullest sense - is nearer now than when we first believed. This isn't just about our initial moment of faith, but about the ongoing process of sanctification and the future glory that awaits us.

Salvation, as Scripture teaches, has three components: justification (past tense - we have been saved from sin's penalty), sanctification (present tense - we are being saved from sin's power), and glorification (future tense - we will be saved from sin's presence). Each day that passes brings us closer to the full realization of our salvation in Christ.

This urgency calls us to action. We're instructed to "cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." It's a powerful metaphor - just as we wouldn't go to work still dressed in our pajamas, we shouldn't cling to the old "clothes" of our sinful nature. Instead, we're called to put on the armor of light, to be prepared for spiritual battle.

The apostle Paul elaborates on this armor in Ephesians 6:10-20, describing the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. This armor equips us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil and the spiritual forces of evil.

But it's not enough to simply put on this armor. We're called to "walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy." This list covers a range of sins - public and private, physical and emotional, sensual and social. The message is clear: all of it must go. We're called to live lives of holiness, transparent and consistent with the light of day.

This call to holiness isn't about earning God's favor - we're saved by grace alone. But our sanctification involves our active cooperation with the Holy Spirit. We must be intentional about putting sin to death in our lives and pursuing holiness. As 1 Peter 1:15-16 reminds us, "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

The culmination of this spiritual wake-up call is found in the instruction to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." This goes beyond mere admiration of Christ - it's about adopting His character, submitting to His authority, and living in His presence. It's a daily decision to let Christ govern our thinking, speaking, and living.

This transformative power of putting on Christ is beautifully illustrated in the story of Augustine, the 4th-century theologian. Struggling with sin and searching for truth, Augustine found himself weeping under a fig tree, crying out to God for deliverance. In that moment, he heard a child's voice saying, "Take up and read." Opening the Scriptures, he read Romans 13:13-14 - the very passage we've been exploring. In that instant, the light of God's grace flooded his heart, leading to his full surrender to Christ and setting him on a path that would profoundly impact church history.

The same gospel power that delivered Augustine is available to us today. Christ has taken our place, dying on the cross for our sins and rising victorious over death. His righteousness is offered to us, freeing us from the burden of sin and shame.

As we reflect on this urgent call to wake up and get ready, let's consider:

1. Where have we grown spiritually complacent or lazy?
2. What "deeds of darkness" do we need to cast off?
3. How can we more fully "put on" Christ in our daily lives?
4. Are we living with an awareness that Christ's return could be imminent?

The day is indeed at hand. Now is the time to wake up, to cast off the deeds of darkness, to walk in holiness, and to clothe ourselves with Christ. Don't hit the snooze button on your spiritual life. The Light of the World is coming, and He's calling us to live in His light today.

Let's heed this wake-up call, allowing the transformative power of the gospel to shine through our lives, as we eagerly await the glorious day of Christ's return. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed - let's live like we believe it.