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Godly Living in Light of the Times This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. --- Rom. 13:11-14 The persecution was about to begin for the Romans and Paul issues a clarion call to stand for the Lord and don't play around as Christians. He tells them to do three things: Wake Up- Vance Havner used to say that many churches were sound all right: Sound asleep with a do not disturb sign on the door. We know the times. Every generation has signs that signal Christ's return and certainly this is one. Be aware of your witness for the salvation here is not initial but final: The day is at hand. Between now and then we need to be consistent, persistent, and aware of the light we give in a dark world We can't afford to sleep through the storm. Souls are at stake. Cast off- Hebrews 12: 1 tells us to lay aside besetting sins and he names a lot of them here: Rioting, drunkenness, letting the wrong gang drag you down, self-indulgence, fighting, and discontentment. Funny how all of these are prevalent of the lost world that is headed for Hell as we speak and many are causing such disruption in our time. Paul says don't let a hint of these be found among you. Get rid of them as you would shed dirty clothes. Put On-We know about Christ's righteousness imputed to us at salvation which is our entrance into heaven. But he is talking about the life now given in Christ that provides contentment so you don't need any of the other stuff that will destroy your life and spoil your witness. What Jesus can give you makes all the other stuff they were to cast off repulsive. Get sick of sin and in love with Jesus and anything is possible in your life. This is such a timely message for our time. We better heed it to avoid sin's destruction and reap God's blessings. --- Dan Nelson