Read Romans 13:8-14

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)

In the preceding verse, Paul pushes us toward the light with a sense of urgency. He deepens this call in verse 12 by contrasting night with day. The present age that Paul describes —the age of darkness— is what he refers to as the night. And make no mistake, the night is far spent!

If the night was waning in Paul's time, how much nearer are we to the final moments of darkness in our own age? The sun is poised to rise, and —praise be to God!— a new day is almost here!

Thus, the great apostle presents us with another twofold command: cast off and put on. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light!

The phrase cast off is a single word in the original Greek, meaning to completely strip away and discard! This is not about removing something to save for later; it’s about discarding it forever. Imagine tossing aside a used tissue after tending to an infection or discarding a rotten piece of wood after its removal from a structure. Throw it away! It is beyond redemption.

And this same term is used throughout the New Testament, often translated as laying aside.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1)

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking…” (1 Peter 2:1)

(See also Colossians 3:8-9 and Ephesians 4:22.)

What is Paul commanding us to cast off in our selected verse? Cast off the works of darkness! Cast aside all that is evil! Take no part in it. Remove it from your life. Leave it behind.

Ah! Beloved, herein lies one of the greatest challenges of the Christian journey. Many attempt to put on the armor of light before fully committing to casting off the works of darkness. The armor of God cannot be worn over our defiled undergarments of the flesh. They must be stripped away! They reek! No amount of deodorant can mask the stench of darkness. A decisive severance from darkness is needed!

Yes, we all stumble in word and deed. We all have fleeting moments of foolishness. We are sinners saved by grace! Yet our lives must not be defined by the works of darkness. They must be severed from us, allowing the armor of light to be properly fitted.

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6–7)

And so, we may put on the armor of light. Paul frequently likens the Christian life to one of armor, depicting it in various ways. Here in our selected text in Romans, it is the armor of light! In Ephesians, it becomes the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:13). In Corinthians, it is the armor of righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 6:7). In Thessalonians, it is the armor of the day (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Therefore, dear Christian, we must not only wake up to the light but also wear the armor of light, so that we may perform the works of God in this evil day. Let us examine what we are wearing. Is it the armor of light or the garments of darkness? Perhaps you are awake, but are you properly dressed? Put on that armor, Christian, and let Christ shine through you!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

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