Are You Night or Day?

By Lane Palmer, Christian Post Guest Columnist Monday, June 28, 2010

Surely you knew that we wouldn't cruise through the summer without seeing our boy Thomas Cruise Mapother IV hitting the big screen in all his starpower - right? But this time there is no impossible mission or war of the worlds going on…he's lost the Valkyrie eye patch and added Cameron Diaz for a comedy/action/adrenaline flick called Knight and Day (as in their names - clever!).

Actually the film was originally titled Wichita and Trouble Man, which sounds more like a Dora the Explorer episode, so I'm glad they changed the name. And trust me, if you're slapping down the big bucks to get your couple hours of thriller killer manly man and girly girl combo…Knight and Day is for you.

One of the more obvious plotlines in this film is the comparison of opposites. Action with romance, Tom Cruise-ness with Cameron Diaz-ness, danger with comedy, etc. etc. - which reminds me of how our real world is, well, also like night and day in its basic nature.

In fact, the Bible uses this metaphor to help us understand life as a Christian so we can be ready for a time that will make every action movie ever made look calm by comparison. Check this out:

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9).

You have probably figured out by now that while Jesus Christ unites believers together, He also divides the world…and one day He will return to divide the eternal destinies of everyone on planet earth. Because of this, Paul sets up a scenario to help us see the urgent nature of this upcoming event. Danger approaches, and there are two types of people. The ones who are of 'the day' are ready, sober, and as alert as someone being chased by bad guys with big guns.

Then there are the people of 'the night'. They drink and sleep their way into a false sense of security that life presents no future jeopardy…even though God has made that fact as plain as the noon day sun.

So are you night or day? If you feel yourself getting spiritually drowsy, wake up and get dressed in the armor of faith and love, and don't forget your helmet that is the complete assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ. Your faith will protect your heart when times are tough and your heart is heavy. Your love for God and others will bring a new outlook on life where each day is a chance to get closer to Jesus and be used by Him to rescue our friends from the trap of darkness.

And finally, protect your thoughts with the complete confidence that you have been saved from the penalty, pollution, and power of sin - and one Day, Christ will arrive like a 'thief in the night' and whisk you away from the very presence of sin!

Once there was a captain of a ship who looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send this message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south."

Soon after a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am the captain!"

Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north - I am third class sailor Jones."

Without delay the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south - I am a battleship."

Then the reply came "Alter your course 10 degrees north - I am a lighthouse!!!"

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world who brings daytime to our dark world. Don't fall asleep, stay alert, be clearheaded and don't let your friends crash into the Lighthouse on the day He returns.

Flashpoint: Ignite Into Action

Think about what 'light' and 'dark' influences and situations exist in your life and how they impact your day-to-day choices. One of your choices each day should be a ready and willing attitude to bring up the subject of Jesus Christ and the gospel with your friends who are not prepared for His return.

Accelerant: Feed the Fire

"The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:16-17).
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:17-18).

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 (Romans 13:12).