PUTTING ON CHRIST "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 revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:11-14, NKJV) Devotion 7 of 33 I have affirmed that salvation, by its very nature, demands the involvement of those being saved. It engages the whole person. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, it was not simply to view the beauty that surrounded them. Rather, the Lord put them there to "tend and keep it" (Gen 2:15, NKJV). Other versions say "cultivate and keep it" (NASB), "work it and take care of it" (NIV), and "till it and keep it" (NRSV). While they did not have to contend with thorns and thistles, and the ground bringing forth contrary and competing plants, they did have to do something. God does call people into activity – and that activity requires all the more diligence and perseverance since sin has entered into the world. – Tomorrow:
When God delivered Noah, the man of God first had to build an ark for the saving of his house. It was a sizable structure, and it required wisdom, diligence, and strength to complete it. Noah labored on this project for well over a century. His salvation required his activity.
When the Lord "brought" Israel out of Egypt with a high hand, there was considerable required of them. The people had to gather their goods for travel. They were required to kill a passover lamb, apply its blood to designated places, and eat the lamb, doing so with their shoes on their feet, traveling clothes upon them, and their staffs in hand. Their deliverance required their activity.
When Israel finally arrived at the promised land, they were told it belonged to them. Yet, the land was actually occupied by many nations, seven of whom were significantly larger than themselves. They were required to drive the inhabitants from the land that had been given to them, doing so quickly and with thoroughness. Some activity was required of them in order to the obtaining of their inheritance.
God delivered Israel from the hand of the Midianites, but did so through the leadership of Gideon and the involvement of the people. He delivered them from the hand of the Philistines, doing so through Samson and the later involvement of the people. He delivered Israel from the giant Goliath, but did so through the efforts of a young man named David. Deliverance involved the participation of the people.
It should not surprise us, therefore, that God requires the saved ones to be involved in the process of their salvation. Their involvement, as I have already said, does not form the basis for their deliverance. They are not saved because of their efforts, but neither are they saved without them extending sanctified effort. The people of God should have no difficulty with this subject, for there have been too many examples of deliverance recorded in Scripture for men to argue whether or not the saved are to do anything.
Is such a view too difficult to receive? Does it appear too harsh? If anything, it is understated. Our text (Rom 13:11-14) will confirm this to be the case. We will be warned, admonished, and urged to more thorough involvement with God. We will be asked to uproot our affections from this world, casting off the works of darkness. We will be told to put on the armor of light, walk honestly, and avoid fleshly involvements. After being admonished to awake out of sleep, we will be told to put on Christ and make no provisions for the flesh. The Spirit will call us to consider the nearness of the culmination of our salvation, reminding us that the night is far spent. Those who tell us there is nothing left for us to do betray their own corruption. Nothing could be further from the truth. All of the admonitions of this text are utterly superfluous if there is no lurking danger. If it is not possible for us to draw back from God, warnings not to do so are absolutely superfluous.
Our text calls for the greatest sobriety and honesty on our part. Yet, faith will flood the heart with confidence while we are in the process of giving heed to the words of the Spirit. Faith is not intimidated by the demands of the Lord, for it knows Divine strength will undergird all conscientious effort to please Him. In fact, faith longs to hear what the Lord requires, for it has a longing to please Him and be with Him. It abhors all that competes with God. Faith cries out, "What do You want me to do?" It cries our heartily, with sincerity, and with a readiness to obey.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace and strength to cast down erroneous thoughts about Your great salvation that tend to disarm the soul, making it vulnerable to Satan.