The Finish Line is Closer Than You Think

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 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 13:11-12

Paul’s words in Romans 13:11 ring like an alarm clock to the soul. He isn’t talking about minutes on a clock—he’s talking about a season, a moment in history marked by the nearness of Christ’s return. Just as a farmer springs into action when harvest season arrives, sharpening his tools and working with urgency, Paul calls us to spiritual alertness. Every sunrise brings us one day closer to the fulfillment of God’s promises. The early church lived with this expectation, and we are called to live with the same urgency today. As James 5:8 reminds us, “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

But waiting for Christ’s return is not passive. Paul ties this urgency directly to love—active, intentional, Christlike love. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Love is our constant responsibility, the evidence that we are awake and alert. Think again of the Good Samaritan. While others walked past the wounded man, the Samaritan recognized the moment and acted with compassion. His love wasn’t theoretical—it was costly, sacrificial, and immediate. That’s the kind of love Paul calls us to while we wait for Jesus: love that moves, love that sees, love that serves.

Paul reminds us that “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Like travelers who finally see their destination on the horizon, we should feel our anticipation rise. Noah understood this kind of expectation—building the ark day after day even when the skies were clear. He knew the season, and he lived prepared. In the same way, we are called to wake up, shake off spiritual drowsiness, and run with the urgency of a runner in the final stretch of a race. The finish line is in sight. Now is the time to live with purpose, to love deeply, and to walk faithfully.

Ask God to awaken your heart to the season you are living in. Look for opportunities today to love intentionally, serve sacrificially, and live with the urgency of someone who knows Christ could return at any moment. Let your life reflect readiness—not fear, but purpose, passion, and love that points others to Jesus.

“The return of Christ is certain, and the time is short. Let us awake, watch, and be sober, lest that day come upon us unprepared.”—J.C. Ryle