Walk in the Light and be Ready

Article for December 3, 2025 first Wednesday in Advent

Romans 13:12–14 12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Put on Christ Jesus as a garment made up of our Lord’s righteousness.  I say this to keep us humble in front of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our self-righteousness does not do us justice and just the opposite of what some might think.  Those who boast in themselves are truly letting others know that they may not be suited for heaven.  Self-righteousness is the darkness we should not walk in as it is a trap set by the evil one.

Paul writes that we should stop walking in the dark and instead walk in the light.  Our world is being overcome by the darkness, but those who walk in the light of Jesus Christ will see the path laid out for us to follow. Let us all follow in the footsteps of Christ our savior.  Jesus gives us His armor of light so that we will not walk blinded by the world’s increasing darkness.

It is time for those of faith to come together in Christ Jesus and hold one another up rather than beating each other down.  We need to live not by our will but by the will of God our Father in heaven.  It is God’s love that lights the path laid out in His will.  And when we walk in the light of God, we will love our neighbor and not use the sword of faith to cut one another down.  Rather we are here to lift one another up in the love of God and each other.

Matthew 24:36–37 36[Jesus said:] “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

I don’t know if those who walked on this earth before and at the time of Noah had any prophesy of their future.  If they had warnings, they ignored it and what came was a disaster beyond their self-righteous comprehension.  What could one do to defend themselves against the wrath of God. 

Many of the people at the time of Noah did not know God or thought of themselves as gods; those who had the strength and power over others.  It was a time of the fittest and the cunning to rule the people and there were many who were forced to follow those who took charge which could change at the swing of a blade or a club.

Matthew 24:38–39 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

I’m thinking that those who watched Noah and his family enter the Ark laughed and drank more as they partied like fools.  Those who followed probably drank to lose mind of their meaningless plight under the power and riches of others. 

Life had gone on for many years, and many did not know, or forgot, or had not been taught that their fate was in the hands of a real God.  Many went on with their lives as if life will always go on forever and ever in a miserable time of chaos. 

What was living like when they first saw the rain falling on the dry ground.  Was this the first-time mankind saw this wonder of rain.  Did they know that it would be their last time to see this perfect storm.  Did they wonder what was happening when the water started to accumulate around their feet. 

What was living like when the water accumulated around their waste, and they watched their small children drown.  And what was living like when they knew that this was the end, when they realized Noah knew something they were not privy to.

This time we have been given fair notice, this time we have been warned.  But do you think many are listening or many will take heed of the times?  Do you think many care?  Will people change or get worse as they start to see the world around them crumble as it shakes itself to destruction?  Are you ready for the coming of our Lord as He rides the cloud in the sky from heaven to earth?

Matthew 24:40–42 40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

What will living be like when we see our neighbor disappear and we are still standing on this earth?  What will living be like when the people around you stop disappearing?  What will living be like when you realize you are not living in heaven, but you are falling through the bottomless pit.  Is the world listening to the warnings or have they laughed them off as some fairytale they think will not happen.  Does their party go on, and for how long before dread sets in.

Thankfully we might not have to ponder these questions.  That is if we have faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He truly died on the cross and while dying He asked His Father to forgive us.  This Jesus we worship is the true savior and not some fairytale wish to be true, for Jesus Christ is real and His recompence is coming. 

Moreover, Jesus purposely died for us so that the Father will save us for the pleasure of our love for Him.  For it is the will of our Father in heaven to save us as His loving children.  Our God saves us because we are His creation and whom He loves dearly.  God does not love us because we are good, or do good, but loves us because He made us for Him to love.

Matthew 24:43–44 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

So, we who believe are ready as we love our God through His actions.  Working through the Holy Spirit God claims us through repentance and faith which is given to us from the Holy Spirit.  Indeed, if we love because we realize what God has done for us then God has given our will to love Him too.  Amen

Romans 13:10–11 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Amen

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May