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.”  Having thought of the night and the day in this verse, now we want to consider the particular duty of all believers, connected with the truths we have studied so far.  The particular duty is put before us in the second half of the verse, “… let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”  It is not hard for us to know that this second half of the verse speaks of the duty that we must fulfil.  It comes with the word, “therefore.”  For example, when Paul ends his doctrinal part of the book of Romans, he begins his practical exhortation.  The first verse in this practical section is Romans 12:1, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…”  The same pattern is found in the book of Ephesians.  Having laid a mighty foundation of doctrine for the Ephesian church, he begins his practical exhortations in Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”  Paul, having dismissed all objections to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, concluded his talk in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable…” With these observations, read 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.” 

First, the foremost duty of believers found in Romans 13:12 is none other than personal holiness.  Especially, if we relate “the day” to “the return of Christ,” we cannot but say that there is unmistakable connection between Christ’s return and kingdom and personal holiness.  Then, we know that the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is neither an unprofitable nor an impractical lesson.  Paul says in Philippians 4:5, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”  He says in Colossians 3:2-5, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”  We must exhort one another as we see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).  2 Peter 3:13-14 surely nails it down, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”  All the quoted verses speak about the day of glory, the coming of Christ, and they also encourage believers to be holy.  Paul says, “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.” 

Then, how shall we cast off the works of darkness?  (1) We ought to lay aside everything in our life and habits which will not bear the light of Christ’s appearing.  We ought to make it a principle of conscience to do nothing we would not like to be found doing when Jesus comes again to gather His people together.  (2) We must set up an assize with us, and honestly bring our ways to a trial and judge them for ourselves.  In order to do so, we have to bring the light of the day of Christ to bear upon our inner man.  Set our years, months, weeks, and days, and whatever we find within which is akin to darkness, pluck it out and cast it away.  Keep up no questionable habit.  Make no compromise with doubtful practices.  Break down every idol, whether great and small.  Away with it at once, so that He may never say of any of our hearts in that day, “this heart possessed to be a temple of the Holy Ghost, but you hast made it a den of thieves.” 

(3) We must try all our employment of time by the test of Christ’s Second Coming.  Place in this balance our amusements, our books, our companions, our manner of conversation, our daily behaviour in all the relations of life.  Measure all by this measure – “The night is far spent, and the day is at hand.  Am I living as a child of the night, or as one who looks for the day?” 

Second, it is a believer’s duty to put on the armour of light.  We do not leave eminent holiness and spirituality to a few, as if none but a few favoured ones could be eminent saints.  We ought to labour to wear the armour of light ourselves, the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17).  Nothing should prevent our aiming at the highest standard, to behave like one who believes that Christ is coming again.  We should resolve to live so that the day of Christ shall find us needing as little change as possible.  We should seek to have tastes so heavenly, a mind so unworldly, that when the Lord appears we may truly be in tune for His kingdom.  Let there be light in your heart continually, Christ dwelling there by faith – felt, known, and experienced by your soul.  Let there be light in your life continually, Christ reflected there, followed, imitated, and copied.  Live as if you thought Christ might come at any time.  Do everything as if you did it for the last time.  Pray every prayer as if you felt it might be your last prayer.  Hear every sermon as if you were hearing once and for ever. 

Then, how can we put on the armour of light?  (1) See if you are a careless, thoughtless, and unconcerned person.  What are you doing?  You eat, you drink, you sleep, you dress, you work, you buy, you sell, you laugh, you read, but you do nothing for your soul.  Christ is coming to judge the world, and you are unprepared.  Time hurries on, and you are not ready for eternity.  Awake to a sense of your danger and repent this day.  Awake and call upon your God before it is too late to pray!  Awake and seek the Lord Jesus Christ before the door is shut, and the day of wrath begins.  (2) See if you are undecided and halting between two opinions.  What are you doing?  You hear, you listen, you wish, you desire, you mean, you intend, you hope, you resolve, but you go no further.  You see the ark, but you will not go in.  You see the bread of life, but you do not eat it.  You wait, and yet time gets on.  Come out of the world and linger no more.  Take up the cross.  Cast away vain excuses.  Confess Christ before men.  (3) If you are true believers, I should ask you if you live as if you believed the words we have been considering and so show the world you think them true.  The nearer you draw to home, the more wakeful you ought to be.  The more you realize the second personal coming of the Lord Jesus, the more lively ought your Christianity to be.  Let us rub the sleepy eyes of our mind and look the speedy coming of our Master full in the face.  Let the time past suffice to have been drowsy and lazy servants.  For the time to come, let us work like those who feel “the master will soon be here.”  Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come and will not tarry.  Let us awake and sleep no more. 

Lovingly,

Pastor Emeritus

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