Living on the Edge of Eternity

Romans 13:11–14 KJV 1900

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 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. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Introduction:

We are not living in ordinary times. We are living on the edge of eternity—standing closer than ever to the return of Christ. The shadows are lengthening, the night is almost gone, and Paul, under divine inspiration, sounds an urgent call for the believer to wake up, clean up, and suit up.

As A.W. Tozer once said, “The church has been caught sleeping while the world has gone mad.” Romans 13:11–14 is not just an ancient letter; it's a divine alarm clock reminding us that time is short and eternity is near.

Let us examine this passage through three powerful and practical points:

I. Wake Up to the Time (v.11)

“...now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

A. The Recognition of the Hour - (Vs. 11a)

Paul appeals to our understanding: “knowing the time.”

Either of two Greek words could have been used. Chronos would emphasize chronological, calender time. Kairos emphasizes quality or kind of time. Paul uses kairos. “And this do, knowing the kind of time it is.… ” What kind of time is it? The New Testament calls it “the last days”

C. E. B. Cranfield explains: … this present age, which Paul refers to as “the night,” could never have a higher status than that of something “far spent.” Henceforward “the day” would always be imminent, until it should finally break.

The phrase “high time” implies urgency. The hour is late—we cannot afford to be spiritually drowsy.

Jesus warned of spiritual sleep in the last days:

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:13)

B. The Nearness of Salvation - (Vs. 11b)

Salvation here refers not to our conversion but to our final redemption—the return of Christ.

Every tick of the clock brings us closer to eternity.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 1900

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

“...so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We ought to be like the little boy whose family clock malfunctioned and struck fifteen times, so that he rushed wide-eyed to his mother crying, “Mommy, it’s later than it’s ever been before!”

What sanctifying logic! We should also keep in mind that if Christ does not return in our time, he will certainly come individually for us in death. Each ache, each pain, each gray hair, each new wrinkle, each funeral is a reminder that it is later than it has ever been before. It is time to love our neighbors as ourselves.

→ Transition: If we are to live on the edge of eternity, we must first wake up to the time. But awakening is only the beginning. Once awake, we must take action. That leads us to the second point:

II. Wash Up from the Darkness (v.12–13)

“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.”

A. The Contrast of the Times - (Vs. 12a)

“The night is far spent” refers to the world’s moral darkness.

Because we know the danger of the times and we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, we should be all the more energetic and committed to a right walk with God instead of a sleep-walk with God.

How important it is to awake out of sleep! It is possible to do many Christian things and yet essentially be asleep towards God.

Sometimes people talk in their sleep.

Sometimes people hear things in their sleep.

Sometimes people walk in their sleep.

Sometimes people sing in their sleep.

Sometimes people think in their sleep; we call it dreaming.

Because one can do many religious things and still be asleep toward God, it is important for every Christian to make sure they are truly awake and active in their life before God.

“The day is at hand” points to Christ’s return—His light breaking into the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 KJV 1900

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

B. The Casting Off of Sin - (Vs. 12b)

Paul calls us to “cast off the works of darkness”

The illustration is from taking off and putting on clothes. When you get dressed every day, you dress appropriately to who you are and what you plan to do. Therefore, everyday, put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must cast off before we can put on...

“The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins.” (Spurgeon)

He names specific sins:

Rioting and drunkenness – sinful excess.

These words used together picture drunken individuals having a so-called “good time” and disturbing the citizens of the town. The Christian who wants to love must set aside such pursuit of harmful pleasures.

Chambering and wantonness – sexual immorality.

There is to be no “sexual immorality and debauchery.” “Sexual immorality” is a Greek word which can simply be translated, “bed,” and the word rendered “Wantonness” is one of the ugliest words in the Greek language, describing one who is not only given to immorality, but is incapable of feeling shame. The Christian who wants to love must understand that one cannot both love people and live for sex.

Strife and envying – sins of the spirit.

This phrase describes someone who cannot stand being surpassed and grudges others their success and position. Tragically many believers act as if it is their holy duty to keep others in their place.

C. The Clothing of Light - (Vs. 12c)

Not just casting off, but “put on the armour of light.”

It is true that if we are Christians we have already put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:27 says, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.” But our text here in Romans has reference to a practical day-to-day, repeated putting on of Christ. We are to embrace him again and again and again. Ray Stedman gives this illustration:

“When I get up in the morning I put on my clothes, intending them to be part of me all day, to go where I go and do what I do. They cover me and make me presentable to others. That is the purpose of clothes. In the same way, the apostle is saying to us, “Put on Jesus Christ when you get up in the morning. Make him a part of your life that day. Intend that he go with you everywhere you go, and that he act through you in everything you do. Call upon his resources. Live your life IN CHRIST.”

Paul emphasizes that it is “the Lord Jesus Christ” that we put on. We bow to his Lordship. He is King of all or he is not King at all. This is where we gain the capacity to love. Loving on the level comes from the negative—putting off the deeds of darkness, and the positive—putting on Jesus Christ day by day. We must constantly do this.

This implies protection and preparation for battle.

Ephesians 6:11 KJV 1900

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

You wouldn’t wear pajamas to a war zone. But many Christians try to face spiritual battles dressed in the garments of the world.

We wake up to the time. We wash up from the darkness. But we cannot win this battle or walk in victory in our own strength. We must do something more—we must dress up for eternity.

III. Wear Christ as Your Identity (v.14)

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

A. The Call to Imitate Christ - (Vs. 14a)

“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” – wear Him like a garment.

“Putting on Christ is a strong and vivid metaphor. It means more than put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, signifying rather Let Jesus Christ Himself be the armor that you wear.” (Morris)

This means we adopt His character, His compassion, His conduct.

Galatians 3:27 KJV 1900

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

It suggests more than just outward behavior—it calls for an internal transformation that manifests externally. To “put on” Christ means:

To adopt His character: His humility, love, purity, patience, obedience.

To display His likeness: Just as clothes are visible, our lives should visibly reflect Christ.

To assume His authority and mindset: We carry His name and live under His rule.

Just as a uniform identifies a soldier or a jersey identifies a player, putting on Christ identifies us as His followers in a world that desperately needs to see Him.

1 John 2:6 – “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

B. The Charge to Resist the Flesh - (Vs. 14b)

“Make not provision” – don't feed or nurture sinful desires.

The flesh will be as active as we allow it to be. We have a work to do in walking properly, as in the day — it isn’t as if Jesus does it for us as we sit back; instead, He does it through us as we willingly and actively partner with Him.

God used this passage to show Augustine, the great theologian of the early church, that he really could live the Christian life as empowered by the Holy Spirit — he just had to do it. And so do we.

Starve the flesh, feed the spirit (Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

D.L. Moody said: “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”

Conclusion:

We are truly living on the edge of eternity.

It’s time to wake up—no more spiritual sleep.

It’s time to wash up—no more dabbling in the deeds of darkness.

It’s time to wear Christ—to walk daily in His likeness and light.

As Leonard Ravenhill once said, “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”

Don’t wait until tomorrow to live for the One who may return today.

Call to Action:

Believer: Are you awake? Are you clean? Are you clothed in Christ?

Seeker: Are you ready for eternity?

“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” (Amos 4:12)

Now is the time to live with urgency, purity, and identity—on the edge of eternity.