Dressing in the Morning

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Romans 13:11-14

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.…

It is a great mistake for a man not to know the times in which he lives, and how to act in them; and when he does not know the time as to the day of his own life, so as to apply his heart unto wisdom. What is the time of day with the Christian? It is no longer the dead of the night, "the day is at hand." A little while ago the dense darkness of ignorance was about us; but the gospel has made us light in the Lord. The day-star is shining upon us, and we look for a perfect day. It is not as yet full day with us. The sun has risen, but it is not yet noon. Note —

I. THE MORNING CALL.

1. Awake — "It is high time to awake out of sleep."(1) Arise from the sleep of inaction. Do not let your religion consist in receiving all and doing nothing.

(2) Leave also all lethargy behind you. At night a man may yawn and stretch himself; but when the morning comes he should be brisk, for the day will be none too long.

(3) Have done with dreaming. You who are not of the night must not dote on the world's shadows, but look for eternal realities.

2. Cast off your night clothes. "Cast off the works of darkness." The man who is just awakened shakes off his bed clothes and leaves them. The coverlet of night is not our covering by day. Sins and follies are to be cast off when we put on the garments of light. I have known a man profess to be converted, but he has merely put religion over his old character. This will never do: Christ has not come to save you in but from your sins.

3. Put on your morning dress. "Let us put on the armour of light." Does not this warn us that a day of battle is coming? Be wise, then, and dress according to what you will meet with during the day. Young converts think that they have got to heaven, or very near it; but the time is not yet. You are in an enemy's country: put on the armour of light. Perhaps before you get down to breakfast an arrow wilt be shot at you by the great enemy. Your foes may be found in your own household, and they may wound you at your own table. The Greek word, however, may be understood to signify not only armour, but such garments as are fitted and suitable for the day's work. These should be put on at once, and our soul should be dressed for service. Some people are too fine to do real service for the Lord. When the Duke of Wellington asked one of our soldiers how he would like to be dressed if he had to fight the battle of Waterloo again, he answered that he should like to be in his shirt sleeves.

4. Walk forth and behave as in the light. "Let us walk honestly, as in the day," let our demeanour be such as becomes daylight. How should a child of light conduct himself? "Honestly" may mean decently, with decorum and dignity. In the middle of the night, if you have to go about the house, you are not particular as to how you are dressed; but you do not go out to your business slip-shod, but arrayed according to your station. Let it be so with you spiritually: holiness is the highest decency, the most becoming apparel.

5. Renounce the deeds of darkness. If we have put on the garments of light, it behoves us to have done with the things that belong to the night.

(1) Sensuality, "rioting and drunkenness." If a drinking bout is held it is usually at night.

(2) Impurity, "not in chambering and wantonness." It is an awful thing when a man calls himself by the name of Christian, and yet can be unchaste in conversation, lascivious in spirit, wicked in life.

(3) Passion, "strife and envying." Brawls are for the night.

II. THE MORNING GOSPEL. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." In Christ there is —

1. Covering for nakedness. There is in Him a complete and suitable apparel for thy soul, by which every blemish and defilement shall be put out of sight.

2. A garment suitable for everyday work. All the power to be holy, forgiving, heroic, enthusiastic in the service of God, comes through Christ when we are in Him.

3. Apparel for dignity. God Himself asks no purer or more acceptable array. A seraph wears nothing but created brightness, but a child of God clothed in Christ wears uncreated splendour.

4. Armour for defence. The man that lives as Christ would live, is thereby made impervious to the shafts of the enemy.

5. Raiment for all emergencies. This garment will never wax old; it will last you all the desert through, and what is more, it is suitable for Canaan, and you shall keep it on forever.

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