Live Like You Were Dying

Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in [partying] revelry, [getting high on drugs] and drunkenness, not in [filthy] lewdness and sinful lust, not in [divisive] strife and [covetous] envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the [fallen] flesh, to fulfill its [yearning] lusts.”

 

In my Tuesday Bible Study on eschatology [End Times, the Rapture of Christ’s Church, the seven years of Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ], the prime message in these immanent events are the questions: Are you awake, watching, aware, anticipating, living rightly and ready? Pastor David Jeremiah states that it has always been important for Christians to understand the times. During this time of urgency, born-again Believers need to make every effort to resist the seductiveness of our God-rejecting, existential secular humanist culture, which is godless and a law unto themselves; clinging close to Christ, knowing that the day is at hand. 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 “Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

 

The Bible [the living Word of Almighty God] tells us that we should be interested and aware of what is going on in the world. But, we in the natural world are remarkably blind to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our life. We are hypnotized by the routine rhythm of life, as if this moment has no bearing on eternity and everything is going to continue as it always has been. But, the moment that we repent of sin and say “yes” to God grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, our sins are forgiven, and we are justified and saved unto eternal life. The next thing that happens is that we grow and become more like Jesus in the process of sanctification, being made holy. And when we pass away someday, we will stand before the Lord in glory, made perfect and set-free from every sin.   

 

Ephesians 5:6-8 “See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” Cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day. John 1:4-5,9 says, “In Him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Darkness is the absence of light, and the darkness of sin is the absence of God in one’s life.  

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Put on the armor of light. Ephesians 6:11-12 instructs us to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Fight for “right” and live like you were dying, for “we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed”, so live for Christ like you were dying.

In Christ, Brian