than when we first believed. This does not refer to salvation from sin. It is actually the day of Christ's return, when His kingdom is going to appear (Romans 8:18, 19, 22). “Salvation" means "deliverance." The promise is even more explicit in I Thessalonians 4:18-18. We must be in anticipation of this glorious coming day. How terrible if we were found asleep, not understand ing what is going on. Unfortunate ly, this world is not looking for the coming of Christ. We must reject the workings of darkness (vs. 12). The Apostle urges us to be done with "rioting and drunkenness," "chambering and wantonness," "strife and envying." The first has to do with those who are looking for artificial pleasures. Such can never give permanent satisfaction. The Bible has much to say in re gard to sexual relationships among Christians. The world somehow feels there may be another way. This might be termed as the "Sex Age" for it is written on every hand. Yet true and lasting satisfac tion can never come in an illicit fashion. We are to avoid "strife and en vying." Man's inner being is never fulfilled by a high position, an in flated self, or downright pride. It is sad to see how selfish man really is. The Apostle tells us, "Do not allow any foolish pursuits to keep you from being awake, knowing what is going on in this world." St. Augustine, in his confessions, writes of his remarkable conver sion. He testifies, "I seized the Book, opened it and read in silence the passage on which my eyes were first cast. 'Not in revelings and drunkenness, not in chambering and 'antonness, not in strife and
jealousy, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provi sion for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.' I had no wish, no need, to read fur ther. For at the end of this sen tence, immediately, as if the light of full assurance had been poured into my heart, the darkness of my doubts all fled away." Only lasting contentment can be found in Jesus Christ. Look at the stirring appeal, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (13:14). We are to be clothed from head to foot with Christ. We are in a very real battle. We must wear the complete armor of Christ. Have you ever analyzed your dedication? Christ seeks to flow through our whole being, allowing us to minister to one another. I was 11 years old when we got electricity in our home up in the Yakima Valley of Washington. What a big day that was. It made for a lot of changes. My mother got a new electric stove. She missed her old wooden one and would like to have had it back since she knew how to cook on it. A number of rooms did not have lights for a long time. The power was there but everything was not installed. The Lord Jesus Christ is available to everyone of us. He desires to empower and enable us for His service. The problem is with us. We allow the old life to go on, permeating our beings rather than letting Him take over completely (I John 2:28). Do not be caught asleep! Let Christ take over com pletely. Let us determine that we are going to bear an impact on this world, and not allow anything to sidetrack us. Page 41
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