Romans 13:11–12 (NIV)
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Paul isn’t playing games in this passage. He’s grabbing the Church by the collar and saying, “Wake up — you’re living like you don’t know what time it is.”
And the “time” he’s talking about isn’t 11:59 on New Year’s Eve. It’s the spiritual clock — the reality that every day we’re stepping closer to the return of Christ and the fullness of our salvation.
“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber…”
Paul’s saying, Stop sleepwalking through your faith.
Not sinful sleep, not atheistic sleep — lazy, distracted, comfortable Christian sleep. The kind where you still believe, still love Jesus, still go to church… but spiritually you’re on autopilot while life passes by like Costco shoppers hunting samples.
We’ve all been there — drifting, coasting, spiritually snoozing with the blanket pulled up to our chin. Paul calls that slumber. In other words:
“Quit hitting the snooze button on obedience.”
“…because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Paul’s reminding us: Jesus is coming back.
Not someday-maybe-kinda. No — each sunrise puts us one day closer.
He’s not trying to scare the Church; he’s trying to wake us into purpose.
If you knew Jesus was returning Friday at 3 p.m., you’d live this week a little different, yeah? Paul’s saying: Live like that NOW.
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”
The “night” = this present age of brokenness, sin, confusion.
The “day” = the kingdom of God revealed in full when Christ returns.
In other words:
The darkness is losing. The light is rising.
So live like somebody who knows dawn is coming, not like someone stumbling around in the dark looking for their slippers.
“So let us put aside the deeds of darkness…”
This is Paul going full coach-mode: “Drop the stuff that doesn’t belong to your calling.”
He’s talking about:
• Hidden sins
• Secret attitudes
• Shady habits
• Stuff we excuse because “it’s been a long year” or “I’m stressed”
Paul says:
Take it off like a dirty shirt.
Don’t fold it. Don’t store it. Don’t justify it.
Throw it in the trash can outside the house.
“…and put on the armor of light.”
Not a hoodie. Not a robe. But, Armor.
That means faith isn’t passive — it’s a fight. You don’t stumble into holiness; you suit up for it.
And “light” isn’t just purity — it’s visibility.
Armor of light means:
• Let Jesus be seen in you.
• Let righteousness cover you.
• Let the world notice the difference.
The way we deal with our houses at the end of the year is how Paul wants us to deal with our hearts:
We toss trees, box decorations, sweep up needles, and promise ourselves diet miracles that last about six hours.
But Paul says:
Don’t just clean your house — clean your life.
Don’t just pack away clutter — pack away compromise.
Don’t just spruce up your living room — armor up your soul.
The end of the year is not about resolutions — it’s about readiness.
Ready for the King.
Ready for the light.
Ready for the new season God’s bringing.
“Here’s the first truth we must face today: as 2025 comes to a close, God is calling us to…
I. CLEAN UP - to leave behind what doesn’t belong in the next season.”
Paul begins with one command:
“Wake up… throw off the deeds of darkness.” (Romans 13:11–12 NIV)
Some folks are awake physically but spiritually sleepwalking — eyes open, heart on autopilot, soul drifting.
Illustration: The Packed Storage Unit
Ever open a storage unit you haven’t touched all year? Boxes stacked to heaven, random stuff you forgot existed, old clothes, broken tools, Christmas décor from 1997, and that one box labeled, “KEEP — REALLY IMPORTANT,” but you have no clue what’s inside.
You stand there thinking, How did all this junk get here?
Your heart’s the same way. Junk piles up when we’re not paying attention — attitudes, habits, resentments, compromises.
Paul says: Wake up. Open the door. Throw out the garbage.
Psalm 139:23–24 (NIV)
“Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Trying to fix spiritual problems with worldly solutions is like trying to patch a sinking canoe with duct tape.
It might float for a minute…but you’re going swimming.
Only Jesus heals.
Only Jesus restores.
Confession isn’t punishment — it’s maintenance. It’s the daily rinse-cycle of the Christian life.
II. SHAPE UP
Cleaning up gets you ready.
Shaping up makes you strong.
Illustration: The Abandoned Gym Membership
Every January, gyms are packed — people full of enthusiasm, brand-new shoes, expensive water bottles, playlists ready.
By February?
Half the crowd is gone.
By March?
You could bowl in there.
Why?
Because initial excitement can’t replace consistent effort.
Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Acts 2:42 (NIV)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Want spiritual stamina?
Show up.
Train consistently.
• You won’t become prayerful if you only pray in emergencies.
• You won’t become biblically solid if the only Scripture you read is on the screen at church.
• You won’t become Christlike if you only worship when you “feel it.”
No athlete grows without sweat.
No Christian grows without discipline.
Godliness isn’t built on “someday.”
It’s built on today — and then again tomorrow.
III. SPRUCE UP
Paul continues:
“Put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12 NIV)
It’s not enough to be clean and strong — you’ve got to shine.
Illustration: The Ocean-View Window
Say you have one of those perfect Kauai ocean-view windows — but the glass is filthy. Salt spray, fingerprints, dog nose smudges, the whole deal.
The view is still there… but you can’t see it clearly.
All it takes is a good cleaning and suddenly — boom — the beauty is obvious.
Just like that window, you were made to reveal the light of Christ.
When the grime of the world settles on you, it dims the view.
But when God cleans you? The world sees Jesus more clearly.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
People don’t just hear the Gospel — they watch it.
In a world full of angry voices, anxious hearts, and dark roads, kindness shines like a full moon over Hanalei Bay.
Your attitude preaches.
Your reactions preach.
Your compassion preaches.
You’re not just wearing the armor of light — you’re reflecting Christ Himself.
Conclusion:
Paul says two things:
Wake up… and suit up.
We are closer to the return of Christ today than we were yesterday.
The night is nearly gone.
The day is almost here.
WEEKLY CHALLENGE: “FINISH STRONG, START CLEAN”
1. CLEAN UP
Alright, fam — this week, no dragging last year’s junk around like an overstuffed Costco cart. Whatever guilt, bitterness, laziness, or spiritual trash is still clinging to ya? Drop it at Jesus’ feet on purpose. One prayer. One moment. One surrender. Do it this week.
2. SHAPE UP
No more “spiritual dad-bod” Christianity. Pick one spiritual habit — prayer, Scripture, worship, serving — and work that thing every day. Tighten it up. Strengthen it. Train like somebody who actually belongs to the King.
3. SPRUCE UP
Before you leave the house, remind yourself: “I’m wearing the light today.”
Then look for one chance — just ONE — to shine it or share it. Encourage somebody. Pray for somebody. Speak hope. Bring joy. Be the light, not the flickering bulb that needs replacing.
This week’s mission?
Clean it. Shape it. Shine it.
Finish the year like a servant of Jesus who means business.
