All of us have probably experienced one of those mornings when we either forgot to set the alarm or slept through it and so woke up suddenly to leap out of bed declaring, “I’m late!” With things scheduled for the day and tasks to be done beginning to fill the mind, we regret having awakened later than planned.
This reminds me of the White Rabbit in Disney’s classic animated “Alice in Wonderland” who sang, “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello, good-bye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late. I’m late and when I wave, I lose the time I save. My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave. . . . .”
Running late some morning can put us into such a panic. However, though running late may be the experience of a day, are we awake to what it means regarding life? As someone has noted, “It is later than you think, don’t let the time pass you by.” (original source unknown)
Writing to Christians at Rome, after addressing life in this world under the powers that be (Romans 13:1-7) and fulfilling the law of love (Romans 13:8-10), Paul went on to exhort. . .
“(11) Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (12) The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11-12 ESV)
Not knowing exactly when the time of the fullness of salvation and the fruition of all things would come, Paul urged his readers to presently live awake to the way in which they were to live. He then went on to list some of the things out of place with the Christians walk. (Romans 13:13-14) The night of past life was far spent, and the day was at hand for arising to live for the Lord.
For some it is later than they realize to awake from their slumber to the truth in Christ. However, there is no need for panic when we remain awake to living in Christ to glorify Him by surrendering to His Sovereign Will and Divine Purposes as we trust Him for the future He is bringing us toward. Each day lived brings us another day closer to the fullness of the eternal salvation He came to provide. May we trust the timing of the Divine Plan as we press on in the daytime of His Light!
Have a great day AWAKE TO THE DAY WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN!
Carl
