"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOING TO HEAVEN AND SEEING THE LORD"
Rom 13:11 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.
Rom 13:12 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.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Some explanatory thoughts/application and a prayer:
1. Paul is talking in these verses about how we ought to be living in light of the fact that we are nearer now ( to seeing the Lord, and being in heaven ) then when we first believed. Let's take a look at what he has to say.
2. In light of the fact that we are now nearer, or as it says in 13:11b "for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." then, we ought to be walking in the ways the Lord has taught us to walk. And, in this case, though they are not listed here, the previous verses Paul is referencing have to do with loving one another. We ought to be loving one another is the idea.
Here's how it reads in the NLT Rom 13:11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. So, to just look at it again. Today, we are closer to being with the Lord, seeing Jesus face to face, being in heaven than when we first believed. Question. When did you first believe? How long ago was it? What a blessing to realize how much time has elapsed since then, and you are that much closer to seeing the Lord.
3. Here are the next few verses that explain in clear detail how we are to be living now, since we are closer to seeing the Lord, but, we are not there yet. Here's a picture of the Christian life.
Rom 13:12 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.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
4. A quick look at what he has just said.
(1) Our old life is over, and we are in our new life now. So, in light of who we are, let's put off the ways of darkness, and let's put on God's armor of light, i.e put on, or clothe yourself in Jesus Christ. The idea here, is that your life is short, it's almost over in the sense that time flies. You will be with the Lord sooner than you can imagine if you will. So, while you are here, don't live in the dark ways you used to live in. Put the evil things of the past out of your life, get rid of those evil things and deeds. Get rid of them just like if you were taking off dirty clothes.
(2) Now that you are a Christian, live a decent life, and live truthfully in everything You do. Let your life be something that any and everyone can be affirming of, and approving as the right way to live. Don't get involved in wild parties, getting drunk, and living in adultery and sexual sins, or any type of immoral living. Don't be fighting, and don't be jealous of others. Be content where the Lord has placed You. Live to please Him.
(3) Now that You are saved, "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" Or let Jesus control your life, let Him take the wheel you might say. Relinquish the control of Your life, day by day to Him. Be a disciple who follows and obeys Him. And, don't allow your imagination to come up with ways and ideas of how to fulfill your evil desires. When that type of thinking starts to come into your mind, just push them out, and ask Jesus to take over, and He will.
5. Well, even just reading through this devotional, has taken a few minutes, and now you are that much closer to seeing the Lord than when you first started reading. And, we have God's Word to tell us how to live as we wait to see Him.
A prayer:
Father, first of all, thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, to pay for our sins, to take our punishment upon Himself, and not have to pay for our sins ourselves. We owe our salvation to You, and gladly want to praise You and to thank You. And, then Father, thank You that there is a new way to live, not only are we new creatures in Christ, but we have a whole new way to live while we wait to see Jesus. Thank You for laying it out so clearly in the Word of God. You have given us Your Word, and we want to not only hear You, but be also be doers of Your Word. We pray that You would indeed use our lives. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
