Morning is Closer than it Looks
Well now, by golly, friend, come right on up here and ease yourself onto this ol’ front porch before that ol’ rooster down the hill right over there struts by like he personally has the super power to flip the switch on daylight every mornin’. Some mornin’s are so dark you’d think the sun got plum sidetracked behind the ridge and stopped in for biscuits somewhere behind the mountains to the east. The ol’ whippoorwill is still carryin’ on, the fog is huggin’ the pasture, and the world feels about as sleepy as an ol’ farm dog curled up by the screen door. But just because the mornin’ is taking its sweet time don’t ever mean it’s done forgot to come.
That’s the very heartbeat of Romans 13:12, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Paul is remindin’ us that the darkness won’t have the last word. This ol’ world may feel long on shadows and short on hope, but dawn is a whole lot closer than it looks. Jesus Christ is comin’ again, and every passin’ day brings us nearer to that glorious sunrise.
That’s sho’-nuff’ why 2 Peter 3:3-4 says scoffers will ask where His promise is. They look at the same old brokenness and figure nothing will ever change. But 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise. He is patient, not willing that any should perish.” What seems like delay is really mercy wearin’ work boots and waitin’ at the gate for one more soul to come home.
That truth oughta wake us up quicker than cold creek water bein’ poured down our back. Since Christ is sho’-nuff’ comin’ back, we don’t nap through life spiritually. We don’t cuddle up to sin like it’s a tame ol’ possum sittin’ on the porch. We live awake, ready, and steady. Titus 2:13 calls this our “blessed hope.” Hope ain’t not kind of wishful thinkin’. It’s settled confidence that the Son will rise on schedule.
Father, thank You that Jesus Christ is coming again. Keep my heart awake, my life clean, and my eyes lifted. Help me live today in joyful readiness and faithful obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, bless your heart, friend, you gotta be steppin’ on out of here with your heart plum pointed toward heaven like a big ol’ sunflower trackin’ the light. Don’t be lettin’ this ol’ shadowy world convince you that midnight is gonna be permanent. An ol’ hoot owl may git to fussin’ and a fox may git to barkin’, but neither one of ‘em can chain or shackle the dawn. So, shake the sleep plum out from your soul, trim your lamp, lift up your head, and keep lookin’ to the eastern sky. Mornin’ is a whole lot closer than it looks, and Jesus won’t be one second late. Your redemption is drawin’ nigh!
With joy,
Gwen
