Midweek Encouragement - "Alarm Clock Time”

"Alarm Clock Time”

  ^{“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”}

^{Romans 13:11-14 NIV}

         ^{Have you ever noticed how wrist watch time is different from alarm clock time? A glance at the watch on your arm doesn’t change the direction of what you’re doing at the moment. But the penetrating ring of an alarm clock startles you and stimulates you. When your alarm goes off, you move!}

         ^{God’s time is alarm clock time. In Romans 13:11-14, Paul sounded the Advent alarm. “. . . understanding the present time . . . “ Now is the time to change and live for God. “. . . because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”}

         ^{Do you realize that the end event Paul was talking about is the imminent return of Christ, the event that will make Christ fully known and finally as Judge and Redeemer. God’s plan for humankind, focused in Christ, is soon coming to a climax. The countdown that was set into motion by His miraculous birth will soon be approaching zero. At any moment God’s future will become our present. My friend, the great day of Christ’s return is near!}

         ^{That’s why Paul calls us to live in the very dawn of that day. We’ve been sleeping long enough. We’ve been staggering around in the dark. Jesus Christ is our Light. He can drive the darkness from our eyes and the fear from our hearts.}

         ^{Advent waiting is living in the light of Jesus’ return. The Bible says that works of darkness can’t be done when that light shines on us. That’s why Advent asks us to examine our behavior and remember Bethlehem. Into the manger came One who could do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He came to take away the burden of our deeds of darkness.}

         ^{When, with repentance and humility, we accept God’s gift of forgiveness, we put on the “armor of light.” We receive a power that makes it possible for us to be wide-awake and living “decently, as in the daytime.”}

         ^{That, my friend, is what Advent is all about . . . learning to live in the light of Christ, and not walking in the darkness anymore.}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.