Romans 13:12 (NASB)
The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Bible Verses and Images by Subject
Bible Commentary
Romans 13:12 is a Bible verse where the Apostle Paul gives us a strict warning about cleaning up our act because the time of God’s visitation is near.
We’ve probably all seen a movie or TV show where a person is rushing to get into the doors of a subway train, but he doesn’t quite make it. The doors shut before he can get in, and the train takes off without him and he is left alone.
The Apostle Paul’s warning is something like this in Romans 13:12. Let’s look at the whole passage to get the proper context.
Romans 13:8-14 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Paul is telling us to walk away, or lay aside the deeds of darkness. He even gives us clear examples of what “darkness” is in verse 13 above—carousing and drunkenness, sexual promiscuity and sensuality, strife and jealousy.
Keep Ourselves Separate
We don’t have to look very far in our society to see these things all around us. However, with a willingness to follow Christ, we can keep ourselves separate from those who participate in these things, but it is more difficult to keep ourselves from the influence “darkness”.
Once we put a foot in, so-to-speak, we are dragged into the middle of the fray. Particularly with strife and jealousy, we can listen to two sides of an issue or watch a heated conversation on social media, and when we throw our own strong opinion into the mix, it’s like getting sucked into a whirlwind.
We might have the best intention to enlighten someone with our knowledge or experience, but by putting ourselves into the middle of things we have only fanned the flame of an already out-of-control fire.
Paul said in Romans 13:12 to lay aside the deeds of darkness.
It is imperative that we separate ourselves from the darkness, or like the man who didn’t make it to the subway train in time, the doors to the Kingdom will close and it will take off without us, leaving us all alone.
Unlocking the Truth – Armor of Light
When Christ told us to… click to continue reading
