It Is Later Than You Think | Fr Seraphim Rose | American Saint | Memento Mori | Apocalypse | Orthodox Cross in Circle | Christian Tank Top

Brothers: it is later than you think. Hasten, therefore, to do the work of God.

+ Venerable Father Seraphim (Rose) of Platina

Scripture

Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

- Romans 13:10-12

Interpretation

Night is what Paul calls this present age, because most people are in darkness and everyone's life is concealed. Day, on the other hand, is the age to come, because the just will have light, and everyone's hidden deeds will be exposed at that time... Paul calls the deeds of sin works because of all their toil, drudgery, and danger, even in this age. The armour of light is that of virtue, for it protects the one who wears it; moreover, it is armour of light, and it causes a person to "shine." By saying, cast off and put on, he shows how easy it is both to flee wicked deeds and incline to virtue. It is as easy to run from vice and choose virtue as it is to cast off one garment and put on another.

+ Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid, The Explanation of Romans

Application

"As I find you, I will judge you" (Ezekiel 33:20). Behold, the value of a moment. Did He find you in repentance? Did He meet you in confession? Did He reach you saying, "I have sinned against heaven and before You" (Luke 15:18)? Did He approach you when you had tears of genuine repentance and self-reproach in your eyes? Behold, it is in one moment that God makes His decision. "The Lord is faithful in all His words" (Psalm 144:13).

However, if He finds you otherwise, O man, then the eyes of your soul will open, and you will see what you have lost—but what is the use? If God condemns a person, repentance is futile; when the "fair" of life ends, words are pointless. It is all over!

Oh, what a great mystery this is! O my God, my Sweet Jesus, open the eyes of my soul so that I may see very clearly this great mystery of my eternal salvation, so that, helped by thy grace, I may prepare provisions and not repent at the end of my life to no avail. As Thou dost see, I do absolutely nothing and am entirely leprous with passions. Grant me tears and complete repentance before the last hour comes, when I shalll hear Thy voice, "Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die and not live" (Isaiah 38:1). 

- Elder Ephraim of Arizona, Counsels from the Holy Mountain, p. 57.