Mike Focht 5/30/2025
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. 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.
Romans 13:11-13
The mature Christian is awake!
Paul’s exhortation goes beyond physical sleep. The mature Christian is awake to spiritual realities, while the sleeping Christian is asleep to spiritual realities. To be awake is to live in light of spiritual truth. To be asleep is to live insensitive to spiritual truths. The one lives in the light—the other lives in darkness.
When we sleep, we still have a certain level of experience. In dreams, we can experience pleasure, pain, anger, sadness, joy, and fear. When we wake up, whatever we experienced in our sleep is lost in the greater reality of actual life. Our spiritual life is very much like that. Satan takes the things of this passing world and stirs up our passions, anger, illicit joys, fears, and sadness when, in reality, all those things are as temporary as a dream. Very soon, you and I will wake up into another reality, eternal life, a world that is greater and unchanging.
Death or Christ’s soon return will very shortly end our current nightmares or daydreams. The mature Christian lives in the light of that reality. They understand that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. We cannot sleepwalk through our days by filling them with worldly entertainment. We cannot sleepily allow the opportunities for service to pass us by when we have so few days to honor God. We cannot live drowsy to the reality of Satan’s schemes, temptations, and tactics. When will it be high time to awake from sleep if not now?
The mature Christian understands that we have a very short time to prepare for a very long time. A spiritual war is raging around us, and we do not have the luxury of loafing around in bed with our pajamas on. Instead, we are supposed to be in the battle outfitted with the armor of light. Don’t allow this world to enchant you into a sleepwalking life filled with works of darkness. Realize that the luxuries and battles of this passing world are nearly at an end.
When we step out of this life into the light of the next, into eternity, we will begin reality, the life that remains, and this existence will be seen as the sleepy dream. Wake up and live accordingly!