The night is far gone; the day is at hand. (Romans 13:12)
This is a word of hope to suffering Christians. It's a word of hope to Christians who hate their own sin and long to be done with sinning. It's a word of hope to Christians who long for the last enemy death to be overcome and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).
How is it a word of hope for all these?
"The night" stands for this age of darkness and all its sin and misery and death. And what does Paul say about it? "The night is far gone." The age of sin and misery and death is almost spent.
You might say that 2,000 years after Paul seems like a long dawn. From one standpoint it is. And we cry, How long, O Lord, how long will you let it go on? But the biblical way to think is different.
The key way it is different is that the day has dawned in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the end of this fallen age. He defeated sin and pain and death and Satan. The decisive battle is over. The kingdom has come. Eternal life has come.
And when dawn happens — as it did in the coming of Jesus — no one should doubt the coming of day. Not even if the dawn draws out 2,000 years. It is certain. The day has arrived. Nothing can stop the rising sun.
This devotional is written by John Piper. For more information about Piper's ministry, writing, and books, visit DesiringGod.org.
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