No video file. My apologies. Some unnamed pastor forgot to plug the SD card into the camera.
“Stay Awake…”
Romans 13:(8–10) 11–14
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
As St. Paul says in our text, we know the present time in which we live. We know that this time, this present world, offers all kinds of enticements that can hinder Christians from being faithful. And so, we are not to live thoughtlessly or indifferently; we are to consider carefully these days in which we live and their significance. We are not of this world, Jesus tells us, but we are certainly in it, and we can’t avoid that. Careful discernment is required so that we might understand our days but not get caught up in them. And that is what the apostle means when he says that it is high time to awaken. It is time to shake off that drowsy carelessness into which we so easily fall. It is time to be alert, to be fully aware of what is going on around us, focused on believing what is true and doing what is right and God-pleasing.
And we really have the most wonderful motivation for this. St. Paul tells us,“Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” Every day, every hour, brings our final deliverance nearer. If nothing else, that just makes mathematical sense. God has appointed the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ will return; that will not change. Every day that passes brings us that much closer. The salvation we have already received by grace in Holy Baptism, the salvation nurtured in Word and Sacrament, will soon be revealed in all its eternal fullness when Jesus returns. That moment has come nearer even as we speak.
“The night is far gone, the day is at hand.” That night of which the apostle speaks is our present time, and all the years of sinful futility that have led up to our present day—all of them full of the darkness of sin and death. The day is the return of Christ, preceded by all of the promises made in Holy Scripture that He would return, just as He said. The truth is, those promises have always been there, shedding light on the lives of the faithful. Too often we have let darkness crowd out that light.
The apostle admonishes us to “...cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” The devil is constantly working at dragging us back into the darkness of sin, those fleshly excesses that turn our attention totally to ourselves and away from God and the life He sets before us. And our sinful flesh easily succumbs to those things. In truth, this is spiritual warfare. The armor that Paul speaks of emphasizes the fact that the life of faith is a constant battle against the forces of evil. And the only sure and certain defense is the “armor of light,” the truth of Jesus Christ and His saving work for us, and His powerful Word that keeps us faithful in these things. In this way, we will “walk properly, as in the day time.” We will be enabled by the Holy Spirit to lead lives we need never be ashamed of. For we know and believe that we are living at the edge of the dawn of eternity, ever mindful of the presence of the Lord.
So St. Paul tells us, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” This is baptismal language, isn’t it? As Paul wrote to the Galatians: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptized into Christ, we live in His light: His forgiveness of sins graciously and richly poured on us with the water and Word of Holy Baptism. This baptismal life has been further nourished and strengthened through the hearing of His Word and the blessed Sacrament of His holy body and blood. Christ places Himself into your very mouth, living out His life in you and through you.
And now, the apostle says: “...make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Under God’s guidance and blessing, we certainly make provision for those needs appropriate for our bodies and lives. At the same time, we are to be always wary of our sinful nature; it must be held in check. Remember what Paul said elsewhere: “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want, I keep on doing.” Constant vigilance is required so that we do not feed our sinful nature those things that would allow it to rise up and snuff out the light. This is the never-ending battle that the life of faith in Christ faces.
There is nothing new here. It is that same age-old routine the old evil foe has always used against us, trying to appeal to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh, so that the light of truth and faith, like the lamps in last week’s Gospel, might be allowed to flicker and finally die.
Staying awake and alert requires light that overcomes darkness. We sang about that just a few minutes ago: “From the manger, newborn light shines in glory through the night. Darkness there no more resides; in this light faith now abides.” It was Luther who said that if you are looking for God, look no further than the manger. For as you look into the eyes of that Babe, you are looking into the face of God. And where He is, there is everlasting light: light that will keep us awake, alert, and ready for His coming again in glory. In the name of the Father and of the Son (†) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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