Besides 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. The 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.
~Romans 13:11-12
Can you feel it? Now, it may be a product of my recent birthday (and a certain “these kids today” attitude that comes with multiple decades under one’s belt), but I sense that time is getting short. Just glance at the news, social media feeds, or YouTube reels—the evidence is clear: the dark is getting darker as Satan’s efforts get seemingly more desperate. The culture of death we live in is almost hard to believe (unless you believe the Bible). More than half our society marches for the right to kill babies until birth—and many affirm (dare I say, celebrate) a mom’s murder of her own children. People don’t like what a public figure has to say (or what he represents), and when that person (whether walking down the street or sitting at a table) is gunned down, there is actual glee and revelry for the action. And in no period during my lifetime, no matter who was President of these United States, have I seen such astounding vitriol, madness, and literal death-wishing from the other side of the aisle. Need I mention the meteoric rise of a false religion that flies in the face of our Constitution, a growing political party that has historically always and only destroyed people and nations, and anti-Christ pastors-turned-politicians who speak heresies with a crooked smile, twisting God’s Word like the Garden serpent?
But, sweet friend, it’s not just in these big, public ways that Satan is having a field day. Look at your own circle—and your fellow believers’ circles. His aim is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10a), to prowl around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). On one side of the coin, there’s a valiant effort to keep people from surrendering to Jesus. On the other, his objective is to keep believers from growing in relationship with the Lord and being effective disciples who make disciples. But he is a liar—the father of lies and murderer (John 8:44). And he disguises himself as an angel of light, misleading and twisting truth…hissing with subterfuge, “Did God really say…? It’s nothing new, his schemes. But there’s definitely a ramping up.
There’s great news in all this though! Amid and despite the darkness, the Light is piercing through. As the timeless spiritual war wages, battles are being won—and we must keep our eyes on these victories, using them to spur us on! Look at the immense growth of Bible-teaching churches around the country—my own church being one of them. Each week the dead are coming to life through salvation and choosing to walk in obedience to Christ. Huge, record-breaking baptisms are happening around the country, as people repent and make public proclamations of their faith in Jesus. Prisoners are being set free—both in the figurative and literal sense, as the Gospel is being poured out in prisons through apps and onsite Bible studies. We must also open our eyes to the wins (and opportunities for wins) around us. Watching for how the Lord is moving in our family, among our friends, at our workplace and joining Him!
Fellow believer, each of us must wake up and get in the fight! Time is of the essence! Pray without ceasing, stay in the Word, share the Gospel. Be a light to dispel the darkness around you, expose the darkness, walk wisely (Ephesians 5:1-21). Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Stir up one another to love and good works—and do not stop meeting together (Hebrews 10:23-25). Press on—with joy—to your calling and toward your ultimate home (Philippians 3:12-14; 20-21). Satan may be the god of this world, but Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33)—and Satan (Colossians 2:15). And as the urgency rises (and Jesus’ return becomes daily more imminent), we can hold onto a Great and Certain Truth as we stand firm and wield our sword: We’re fighting a battle that’s already been won (1 John 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:57).
Lord, Your return is closer today than it was yesterday—and the enemy knows this well. Empower and equip me to stand firm and get in the fight. To help strengthen and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ…and share with the lost the hope and light found only in Jesus.
