And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to wake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:11
During a visit with some friends, a good number of years ago now, we spent some time listening to another guest, the late Oswald MacLeod, whose fascinating conversation made the time well worth spending. This faithful old servant of the Lord told us he had been saved for more than 70 years, at that time. He could look back over three-quarters of a century of service and recount many interesting and exciting events during that time. But as he reminisced on all those years, Mr. MacLeod could also realize that he was in the twilight years of his service. He noted that his look back to the day that he trusted Christ was a longer look than the look forward to being in the Glory with his Saviour. This is a great source of encouragement for all of us; no matter what things are like around us now, good or bad, we can say with the hymn writer, ‘Tis better on before.
Paul is reminding the Romans that the reality that we are nearer to Heaven now should encourage us to be alert and watching for the coming of the Lord. Whether by death or by the Rapture, we could be going Home at any time. The word is imminent. And that is what Paul means when he says ‘knowing the time’. We do not know the day or hour of our homecall, or of the Rapture. Being aware of the fact that both are imminent should make a difference in our lives.
It can be easy to sleep and float through a world that is indifferent to its need for the Gospel. It takes someone who is awake and alert to be aware that there are unsaved and starving souls all around us. It’s easy to coast through Assembly meetings and activities as the apathy of the world affects us in our service and worship. It takes an awake and alert Christian to be exercised to see the Assembly function scripturally, effectively, and lovingly. Not that it was ever time for Christians to be asleep, but now is the time for us to shake off spiritual drowsiness and to be aware of the shortness of time.
What will you regret having left undone if the Lord were to call you home today? What is keeping you from doing it? -Jim MacIntosh