Romans 13:12 says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

There is a story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27. The apostle and his companions were exceedingly tossed with a tempest for 13 days. There was neither sun or stars for many days. All hope that they would be saved was taken away. Then, on the fourteenth night, around midnight, the shipmen deemed that they were drawing near to land. They measured the depth of the water and found it was 20 fathoms [about 36.5 metres], and then 15 fathoms [about 27 metres]. They began to fear that the ship might fall upon rocks, so they cast 4 anchors out of the stern and “wished for the day” (Acts 28:29). Just imagine how fearful the night was to all souls on the boat. Many times they must have asked, “what time is it?”

Though our situations may be different, we too may have faced critical moments in life, including our loved ones in critical conditions, desperately waiting for the result of job interviews, or like a general waiting for supporting additional troops to come while engaged in serious battle. Will the morning come? Will the physician come? Will the help come? In such times, time travels slowly, and clocks and watches seem to stand still. We keep asking “What time is it?”

There is an hour before us all when the earth and its works shall be burned up, and the inhabitants of this planet shall all stand before the judgment of Christ. The world is rapidly rolling on towards the day of judgment. Are we ready for it? Is it near, or is it far off? What time is it?

Paul says in Romans 13:12, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” These words ought to rouse our sleeping minds to a sense of the eternal realities which are before us. They call us to lay aside all trifling, lingering and carelessness about our Christianity. They summon us to a close walk with God. There are 4 thoughts in regard to the question, “What time is it?”

First, we should be reminded of the present condition of the world. It is night. In the verse, Paul added a few more words to describe the night, “the night is far spent.” Some may think it strange to call this present age “night.” After all, they are living in days of learning, science, civilisation, commerce, freedom, and knowledge. They see around them things which their forefathers never dreamed of – airplanes, gas, electricity, digital devices, internet, and even AI (artificial intelligence). Despite the availability of such incredible knowledge and technology, in the things of God, the world is still in a state of “night.” The majority of people in the world rebel against God, even deny His existence. In many regions, even possessing a Bible is forbidden, and believing in Jesus is a deadly crime. People are living in cruel, deceitful, immoral, unclean, sensual, devilish, idolatrous, and superstitious lives. That is night.

I am not just talking about a non-Christian world. Many of the professing Christians have unsound faith. Their religion is simply not biblical. They have added many things to Christianity which are not found in the Bible. They have left out many things which the Bible has plainly commanded. There are people who get baptised without even knowing the Bible or having the slightest idea of salvation as revealed in the Gospel. Even many of the so-called once Christian nations have fallen into infidelity. The citizens of such countries do not regard God as the supreme object of worship. They do not go to a place of worship. Some go to church only for appearances without inner conversion. Not many people show any evidence of a saving faith in Christ and a real work of the Spirit in their hearts. Even Christian churches, a dark cloud looms over them as if a deep night is about to overtake them.

If you ever doubt what I have said so far, then go to the godliest people you have known of and ask for their opinions of this present day. I am sure that they will say the same thing as Paul says, “it is night.” I understand that the unconverted would not agree with me that the present time is night. They say so because they would not perceive it. If a man does not have eyes to see, how can he know the difference between the day and the night?

One of the characteristics of the night is that it is often cold and damp. We all know what it is especially during the winter season. In Adelaide, I have felt that at least half of the Spring and Autumn seasons are cold and damp nights, in addition to Winter. Many believers have only cold and dampened zeal for the Lord, and their hearts are only lukewarm at the most. Their love for God has become cold. Why is it so? Because it is night.

If I turn my attention to the true believers who love the Lord with their whole mind, soul, and body, they do experience a few things in the night. I have noticed that such individuals often encounter spiritual loneliness. They find little company on the way that leads them to heaven. Here and there they fall in with someone who loves the Lord as they do and lives by faith. It seems that a few preserved sheep of God are scattered in a wilderness. Because it is night.

They also face dangers both in body and soul. It is not too hard to understand that they may fall into spiritual dangers. They are surrounded by false teachers and preachers, temptation, devilish attacks, discouragements, and so on. The Lord Jesus even warned His own men to watch and pray. Rather, believers are exhorted to be soldiers for Christ. Why do they have to be Christ’s soldiers in this world? It is because they are living in an enemy’s territory and must always be on guard. It is night. The dangers against their body are in relation to their living environments. For example, their countries’ rules, laws, and policies may be against their values. Their children are going to school where they learn things set up by ungodly and unbiblical guidelines. Freedom of speech and expressions could be distorted and perverted, and they may have to live under twisted public moral values and ideologies. It will affect their social life, work, and employments. It is night.

Maybe we need to sit down and ask ourselves whether we consider this world in which we live to be night or day. Is the present time a time of conflict or a time of ease? Do we feel that our best things are here in this life, or that our best things are yet to come? True believers will find the words of His crucified Lord to be true, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). They, like their Lord, will be made perfect through suffering. They will mourn over the world they live in as a world in rebellion against its rightful king. Sin will grieve them. Ungodliness will make them heavy of heart. Like Lot in Sodom, their righteous souls will be daily vexed with much that they see and hear. They will long for the time when the day shall dawn, and the shadows flee away. It is all because they feel the present time is night.

Lovingly, Pastor Emeritus Ki

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