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. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

–Parallel verses:
Mark‬ ‭4:29‬
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.

We live in times when the world around us is changing, and it is changing rapidly. Forces are at work that have been being planned and have built up over the last five decades. Socialism is on the rise, democracy is in decline. We see the moral fiber of our land decaying right in front of our eyes. I just heard that apparently beastiality is no longer a crime in some parts of the US. Sex with animals — have we, as a society, really degraded ourselves this far?

The temptation is to complain, worry, and let the news of “evil gaining ground” … paralyze us. But Paul lived in just such a time as this. The places he traveled to sacrificed their babies in the fire and worshipped by having orgies in honor of their gods. And he had a different perspective: he saw the hour of salvation drawing closer. “When the goin’ gets tough, the tough get goin’.” I like the lyrics to that song. They motivate me. How will I respond spiritually when under attack? Will I run and hide and watch the battle from the sidelines? NO! I will put on the armor of light and fight. That armor, referenced in Ephesians 6:10-18, is not just a “name it claim it” thing. We must meditate on the Word of Life, seek after right living, build our faith in the good and tough times, keep our identity as saved children of God in the forefront of our minds, live by the truth (though it can hurt), and be ready to act by living out the good news about Jesus — letting the world see us transformed by being transparent and real.

Now is the time to cloak ourselves in Jesus Christ all the more. Reorder our days to gain more “facetime” with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, spend more time dwelling with him. let’s look for ways to be bold in our witness. Surge to the finish line! We must redeem the times by UPPING OUR SPIRITUAL GAME! When we see God open doors, when we see people hurting, we must spread his love into their lives. We must seek to minister to them in Christ. The farmer quickly works long hours to harvest his fields when they are ripe. We must do so too.

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John‬ ‭4:35, Jesus speaking‬)
Dear friends, let us focus our minds on the harvest now and let the world fade into the background. In the end, overall societal change happens ONE HEART AT A TIME.