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"It is high time to awake out of sleep..."

Text: Romans 13:11

A WAKE-UP CALL

Soon after his conversion, Paul found himself serving the Lord with all his might. He was never one for sloth! Serving the Lord energetically was ever the hallmark of the life of the apostle Paul. He sent forth a much needed “wake-up” call!

“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.”
Romans 13:11

1. “Knowing the time”

Every believer ought to seek understanding of the use of his “time”. The reference to “time” may be equated with what the Lord Jesus called His “hour”. The following thoughts may be associated with “the time”.

a) Our life span on earth (it is very short).

b) The “times” we are living in.

2. “High time to awake out of sleep”

a) The word “sleep” could be a reference to “indolence”.

b) It could also be a reference to inertia.

c) If the above conditions are true, then it is “high time to awake out of sleep”.

3. “Our salvation”

a) Our salvation could be seen as a singular act (punctiliar idea).

“For by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8

b) It may also be seen as a continuous work of God (progressive idea).

i) We are being saved from sin.

ii) We will be finally saved when life is over.

iii) Or when Christ returns for us.

c) Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed,

Paul was speaking of salvation as the continuous and progressive work of God in our life! With each passing day, “our salvation is nearer than we first believed”.