Friday, November 29, 2013

Do you know what time it is?

It has been more than several weeks since I posted on this blog.  Mea culpa...mea maxima culpa.  I am great sinner when it comes to blogging. However, in my defense, I would like to point out that I have been mindful of the end of the church year with all the Bible readings speaking of the day of Judgement, and the approaching Advent season with its pointers to the coming Messiah.  The biggest and best reminder that I have had in this time has been the funerals. About one a week for the past couple of months. Each one contained the reminder of death, judgement, deliverance and the messiah.  So that's my excuse...a weak one I am sure, but I am sticking with it.  Meanwhile let's take a whack at Paul in Romans 13:11-14...

Paul puts it out there nicely when he writes:

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

There are a number of comparisons here...slumber and waking...night and day...darkness and light...decently and indecently...Jesus and desires of the flesh.  Each involves a choice by the listener. Will you keep on sleeping or are you going to wake up?  Do you wish to remain in the darkness or will you put on the light?   Will you live as Christ or in the desires of the flesh?  

Notice that Paul makes his point in light of "understanding the present time".  He reminds us that "the hour has already come".  It's not something to be waiting for. I know that's where the funerals were helpful for me. They were, each in their own way, a reminder. Life is finite. Time runs out. I need not only to live my life to the full, but to be mindful of living my life in Christ.  For only in him is their "life in all its fullness"