The Fierce Urgency of Now
Romans 13:11-14
Before we get started let me give you a little background on the topic. I must first of all confess that I was not the creative genius behind this topic, Dr Martin Luther King was. I must also confess that the first time I heard it was not from a quote from Dr. King. I heard it for the first time when Obama delivered his speech last Tuesday (May 6th 2008) after winning the democratic primary in South Carolina. He was explaining to the crowd why he was running for president of the United States.
He said, and I quote “I am running because of what Dr. King called “The Fierce Urgency of Now.” I am running because I do believe there’s such a thing as being too late. And that hour is almost here.”1
That grabbed my attention so I did some research on when, how and why it was used by Dr. King because the words just would not give my conscience any rest. He used the phrase in an address delivered to the Clergy and laymen concerned about the war in Vietnam, at Riverside Church on 4 April 1967 in New York City. A speech he entitled “Beyond Vietnam” It was a most powerful delivery:
(Copies of the speech available)
I will just quote a portion of Dr. King’s speech; he said, “The truth of these words is beyond doubt, but the mission to which they call us is a most difficult one. Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government’s policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one’s own bosom and in the surrounding world.
Moreover, when the issues at hand seem as perplexing as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict, we are always on the verge of being mesmerized by uncertainty. But we must move on.
He went on to say:
We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity…We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect.”2
So what does this have to do with us, pastor? We were not around when Vietnam was at war with America! Dr King was a great man who fought for civil rights but all of that is history now pastor, so with all due respect, what does all this have do to with me? I will tell you!
As Dr. King said, We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time.
Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."
And that is precisely what this has to do with us! God rested this in my spirit! It wouldn’t leave me alone, until I started writing!
So I knew God had something to say to us today about the fierce urgency of now! I am talking about this today because my conscience leaves me no other choice!
Time is important, very important, to most people. Without time, man is not living; he is no more. The one thing he does not want is to run out of time. Therefore, it is critical for every man to know the threat of time. Time robbed me of everything that that meant anything to me!
Time stole my mother from me! Time snatched my opportunities! Time denied me my privileges! Time, time, time is a thief!
Then again it wasn’t time that did it, it was I who did not make full use of the time that was given me!
The Word says, in Job 14:1-2 (KJV) 1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
We will look at these four verses in an expeditious yet fruitful manner. First of all we should:
1. NOW WE KNOW THE TIME (V.11).
Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
The word "knowing" means to make sure that you know; do not dare miss knowing. The word "time" means the critical period; the strategic or special period of time.
What strategic or critical period of time is meant? What is the period of human history that we must not overlook? The day of "our salvation," the day which is nearer than when we first believed.
The day which is at hand, the day when we shall meet the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. We make it a point to remember special days in our lives, so of which are important, some are not!
But we remember nonetheless!
2. NOW IS THE TIME TO AWAKEN OUT OF SLEEP (V.11-12)
Romans 13:11-12 (NKJV)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
It is time to awaken out of sleep. Too many believers are slumbering and paying no attention to what is going on in the world; too many are not watching; too many are not observing the signs of the time.
Too many are complacent and slothful, lazily passing through life with little commitment to serving Christ. Too few are meeting the needs of the suffering and dying massses of the world. It is time "to awaken" out of sleep: time to wake up, to be aroused and stirred. It is time to get up and to move and act—now—before it is too late.
There is an urgency at hand, the fierce urgency of NOW! The context of this phrase, to awake, denotes a very strong exhortation! There are two reasons for its forcefulness. One; look at verse 11 again:
Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
A. Salvation Is Nearer Than When We Believed
The word "salvation" is being used in a future sense, referring to the glorious day when we shall be fully saved. It is the day when our salvation will be consummated, and we will be delivered from this present evil world and perfected forever to live in the presence of God. The point is very dramatic: (this is one of the reasons for the Fierce Urgency of NOW!) The day is nearer than when we believed. Awaken out of sleep—arouse yourself—get up—pay attention:
1. Look at the world situation
The Iraq war, the strengthening of Iran and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. It’s all locked in with the scriptures;
Matthew 24:6-8 (KJV)
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
2. Look at the signs
Earthquake in China last week; The Official Death Toll is at 22,069, Could Rise to 50,000
Then there is Cyclone Nargis which pounded Burma, leaving more than 65,000 people dead or missing. Nearly 2 million others were left homeless or in need of food, shelter and medicine.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, Burma is the largest exporter of rice so this had drastically affected the balance of food supply in the world! Again this is all locked in with scriptures, you can run from it!
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
3. Look at yourself
We are so busy trying to make a living, it is killing us! Our emotions are out of control!
Our lives are out of control! Our families are out of control! You try to find relief and refuge, not in God but in a man that is not yours to begin with; in a woman you don’t know and don’t care to know!
All you care about is that your insatiable thirst for sex is appeased, though temporary!
We seek solace, not in the Bible but in the bottle! Trying to find a quick fix to ease the pain and the pressures of life. But a quick fix can’t repair a lifetime of hurt and pain! You don’t need a band aid on your sentiments; You need surgery on your soul!
3. Look at the time
Again we are so busy, so consumed with life and this is not necessarily a rebuke because many of us can’t help but struggle! Life had dealt us a bad hand! But don’t just blame it on others! Some of the things we’re subjected to is a direct result of our poor judgments, bad decision making.
Our government has a lot to do with why we are struggling today! But bush had nothing to do with that looser you hooked up with! Who caused you nothing but pain and regrets! Bush had nothing to do with that crazy drug addicted, alcoholic, father who molested you! But thank God, He kept you sane as stable! If there is a lesson I want you to get out of this is that life happens to everyone! And we have to take it with the good and the bad! Into every life a little rain must fall! And no one has a premium on experience! You can’t appreciate the good without tasting some bad! You cannot know sweet without understanding bitter! You can’t claim God as a healer, unless somewhere in your life, you have been afflicted and gone through! Life teaches us, not only how to evaluate it but also how to appreciate God!
Look at the TIME!!
The Word tells us in…
Ephesians 5:15-18 (NKJV)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Life is full of uncertainties but the day of salvation, the day of our redemption, is nearer than when we believed. We are locked into the scriptures; meaning we (life, humanity) are on course with it! Let at what it says:
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).
"[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:2).
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations [trials]" (1 Peter 1:5-6).
"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18; cp. 2 Tim. 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18).
B. Judgment Is At Hand
Romans 13:11-12 (NKJV)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. The night is far spent; the day is at hand.
What day?
The day when we will meet God face to face, either through death or through the return of the Lord Jesus.
Time is fleeting, passing ever so rapidly—so prepare.
"Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12).
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Matthew 3:3).
"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:34-37).
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor. 15:34).
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Ephes. 5:14).
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thes. 5:6).
It is time to cast off the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light (v.12)
1. The works of darkness are things which people do under the cover of darkness and want to keep secret.
They are sins...
• Stuff which we want to keep secret
• Stuff which we know are unacceptable
• Stuff which men know would cause hurt
• Stuff of which we are ashamed
• Stuff that we are afraid of the results or the wages
• Stuff which men know would do great damage
The Word of God says:
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:19-20).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Ephes. 5:11-12).
"For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night" (1 Thes. 5:7).
"And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:8).
"In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light" (Job 24:16).
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
"Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" (Isaiah 29:15).
"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin" (Isaiah 30:1).
"Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth" (Ezekiel 8:12).
The Word says for us to put on the armor of light; cast of the clothing of darkness. This pictures a person putting on their clothes. We must strip off whatever dark sins and works that we have wrapped around us, and cast them away! Once we have stripped ourselves, we can’t very well walk about naked! So we must put something on! What must we put on? What Paul says about this is very striking: We are not exhorted to just put on the clothes of light; But he tells us to put on the armor of light. We need the heavy shield and protective armor of light—a shield and protection so full of splendor and glory and brilliance that it cannot be penetrated by the works of darkness. What is this armor of light?
a. The armor of light is the armor of righteousness (2 Cor. 6:7).
"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God....by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left" (2 Cor. 6:4, 7).
b. The armor of light is the armor of God.
the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the sandals of the gospel; the shield of faith
the helmet of salvation; the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God; the supernatural resource of the soldier: prayer
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephes. 6:10-11).
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thes. 5:8).
3. NOW IS THE TIME TO WALK STRAIGHT (V.13)
Romans 13:13 (KJV)
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
a. To walk in decency and honor
The word "honestly" means proper, honorable, decent, noble. A child of God, a servant of God is to walk in honesty before God. Meaning: He is to live a life of honesty, decency, and nobility. He is to live a life of honor and honesty before God. He is to walk in the day. Meaning, we are not hiding nor trying to hide anything. This verse gives six sins in particular which we are to to cast off and turn from—forever.
b. Not to walk crooked, staggering about
1. Rioting (komois):
Reveling , carousing, partying, feasting, intemperance, debauchery, unrestrained revelry and indulgence, rioting or reveling and carousing give license to our basic urges. The Word tells us in Gal 5:19-21…
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Peter picks up on this subject when is says in 1 Peter 4:3-5…
1 Peter 4:3-5 (NKJV)
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1. Drunkenness (methais):
This is to take intoxicating drink or drugs to affect the senses and faculties; Really it means to become intoxicated for the purpose of lust or pleasure; To seek to be tipsy or intoxicated; To seek to loosen moral restraint for the sake of bodily pleasure.
Habakkuk 2:15
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" (Habakkuk 2:15).
2. Chambering (koitais PWS: 538):
Sexual immorality, adultery, fornication (pre-marital sex).
"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet" (Romans 1:27).
3. Wantonness (aselgeiais PWS: 4251):
This is sensuality, running wild, licentiousness, debauchery; homosexuality, lasciviousness, living wild, partying, and immoral lifestyle. bIt is excess, unbridled lust that consumes one’s thoughts and behavior!
4. Strife (eridi PWS: 3807):
This is contention, quarreling, arguing, striving. It is the craving deep within a person that wants recognition, honor, position, and authority. It is a spirit that is in constant competition with others! The kind of spirit that will cause you to elevate yourself, by putting others down; by bypassing others; by ignoring others; by holding others back; by blaming others; by neglecting others; The Word of God says,
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3).
"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers" (2 Tim. 2:14).
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" (2 Tim. 2:24).
"He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears" (Proverbs 26:17).
6. Envying (zeloi):
Is jealousy that begrudges others. It looks upon the position, recognition, and success of others with a jealous eye. It regrets the success of others.
"Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" (1 Cor. 13:4).
"Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another" (Galatians 5:26).
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth" (James 3:14).
5. NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Romans 13:14 (NKJV)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Note two points.
1. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, the picture is that of clothing ourselves. We are to clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We are to be as closely bound to Him and His righteousness as we are to our clothes.
This means two things.
a. Jesus Christ becomes our clothing. Galatians 3:27 says,
Galatians 3:27 (GW)
27 Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ’s name have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Clothing touches us!
Clothing is used for protection!
Clothing is used to warm us!
Clothing covers us!
Clothing hides us!
So it is when we put on Christ He...
• touches us
• protects us
• warms us
• covers us
• hides us
The second thing putting on Christ means is:
b. We are wrapped up in Jesus Christ.
Being in Him means that we live, move, and have our being in Him: It means our life is wrapped up in live in His life. It means His thoughts and behavior becomes us.
And so we must...
• only look at that upon which He would look.
• listen only to that to which He would listen.
• talk only as He would talk.
• touch only what He would touch.
• eat and drink only what He would eat and drink.
• think only that upon which He would think.
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephes. 4:24).
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1-3).
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him....Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Col. 3:10, 12).
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
2. We must not make provision for the flesh.
The idea is that we do not give in to the flesh and its lusts; we do not indulge or give license to the flesh. We do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:29).
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the souls" (1 Peter 2:11).
"That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).
When I look at all this, I must conclude that I have no more time to waste! Paul is saying do plan for tomorrow; it may never come! Now, today is the day of decision!
NOW is the time for honesty to ourselves. Our salvation is at stake.
We have gotten away with procrastinating and putting off the things of Christ up until now!
But NOW is here! NOW will be with us for the rest of our life! Tomorrow is not promised! But NOW has been given to us!
Many of us are hoping for a better tomorrow, but that’s not guaranteed!
Dr. King said, We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."
Friends, don’t let it be said that it’s too late! Many of us, we know what that is first hand! That prophesy has been fulfilled in our lives to often! The Lord has given us work to do! Many are waiting on God but God has been waiting on us! Many are waiting on their breakthrough! But few are working for it!
The word says,
Hebrews 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, ’They shall not enter My rest,’ " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
He goes on to say in verse 6
Hebrews 4:6-11 (NKJV)
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
The word cannot be any clearer! Verse 11 says that we must be diligent to enter into the kingdom of heaven! But in our diligence, we must labor TODAY, NOW, not tomorrow, not next week but right now! And we must do so diligently! Diligence suggests, perseverance; giving careful attention to; even a fierce urgency of NOW!
1.http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2007/11/03/the-fierce-urgency-of-now/
2.http://www.africanamericans.com/MLKjrBeyondVietnam.htm
Reference: Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible.
