The verse “it is high time to awake out of sleep” comes from Romans 13:11 in the Bible. This verse falls within a passage where the Apostle Paul is urging Christians to live righteously and cast off sinful behaviors. The specific reference to waking up out of sleep is a metaphor for becoming spiritually alert, aware, and responsible.
To fully understand this verse, it helps to look at the surrounding context. Romans 13:11-14 states:
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
In this passage, Paul reminds believers that they know the urgent times they live in. He refers to the coming return of Christ and the day of salvation that is closer now than when they first believed. This imminent coming of Christ motivates Christians to live accordingly.
The metaphor of sleeping points to living in spiritual darkness, ignorance, complacency or sin. Paul urges the Romans to “wake up” out of this sleepy state. They need to become alert and recognize the urgency of the hour. The time left is short, so they must seize it and take action, casting off sinful ways and putting on righteousness.
The contrast between sleeping and waking, night and day, darkness and light is a common biblical metaphor. Sleeping represents spiritual dullness, blindness and inactivity. Waking represents becoming spiritually aware, discerning, and active in doing God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8).
So in summary, “it is high time to awake out of sleep” is a call to vigilance and urgent action. Paul sees believers slumbering in sin or indifference, while the coming of Christ draws near. He exhorts them to wake up, throw off sin, and walk in the light of righteousness. Now is the time to take faith seriously and live accordingly, before Christ returns. It is a summons to get up and get ready spiritually.
1. The historical context
To fully grasp Paul’s intent, we should understand the historical context. This letter was written to the Christians in Rome in the middle of the 1st century A.D. Christianity had been established but was still a young, fledgling movement facing much opposition and persecution.
Most believers at the time assumed Jesus would return very soon, possibly in their lifetime. There was great anticipation and longing for Christ’s second coming. As time passed, some Christians may have become complacent, distracted and fallen into sinful patterns (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Paul saw the urgent need to stir up the Romans to live righteously in light of the imminent return of Christ. He likely wanted to motivate them to active love and service in spreading the Gospel while there was still time. His call to wake up had a specific context for those early believers.
2. The call to spiritual awakening
“It is high time to awake out of sleep” serves as a recurring call to all generations of Christians who are prone to spiritual slumber. While we may not share the exact context of early believers, the core issue remains. Christians in every era need to be reminded not to sleepwalk through life but stay spiritually awake and ready for Christ.
What does this look like? We can avoid “sleep” by:
- Seeking Christ wholeheartedly in prayer, the Word and fellowship
- Living obediently according to God’s will
- Serving God and others actively with our gifts
- Resisting sinful attitudes and behaviors
- Watching expectantly for Christ’s return
Spiritual wakefulness requires intentional effort. It means engaging fully in our relationship with Christ and Christian living, rather than coasting or stagnating. Heeding Paul’s call can revive areas of spiritual sleep and complacency in our lives today.
3. awake from spiritual slumber
Specifically, Paul’s call in Romans 13 invites believers to awaken and repent in the following areas:
a. Awake from religious routine
It’s easy to grow accustomed to regular church services, ministry activities and spiritual disciplines. Over time, these can become empty routines performed out of habit. Paul’s call shakes up religious routine and challenges believers to engage wholeheartedly with fresh zeal.
b. Awake from sinful indulgence
Many in Rome indulged in wild partying, sexual immorality, drunkenness and strife. Paul exhorts them to cast off these works of darkness. His call comes to each generation indulging in accepted sins. The urgent hour demands we wake up from sinful indulgence to righteousness.
c. Awake from complacency and compromise
When Jesus doesn’t return as soon as expected, it’s tempting to become complacent about eternal things. Life’s comforts and conflicts can absorb our attention. Paul’s call stirs us to remain spiritually alert and to avoid compromising with the world’s ways.
d. Awake from unreadiness
Many put off and delay preparation to meet Christ, whether due to apathy, rebellion or busyness. Paul reminds us there is no time for delay. Now is the day to embrace salvation, walk properly and put on Christ.
4. The expectant posture
Romans 13:11-14 describes believers awake and ready for Christ’s return:
- Knowing the urgent times (v.11)
- Putting off sinful ways (v.12)
- Putting on Christ-like character (v.14)
- Living honorably and properly (v.13)
- Making no room for sinful desires (v.14)
This expectant posture says: Christ could return at any moment, so I will stay spiritually vigilant and live accordingly. This was Paul’s purpose in calling the Romans to awake from sleep. He wanted to stir up an eager, waiting, and responsible posture.
5. Awake to love and serve
For Paul, waking up also brings a new focus to earthly relationships and ministry. The urgent times demand we cast off selfishness and live purposefully for Christ, making the most of opportunities to love and serve others (Romans 13:8-10). There is no time for lingering in sin when the Lord’s coming is imminent.
So in light of Christ’s eventual return, Paul calls believers to wake up and live uprightly, share the Gospel, make disciples, care for those in need, build up the church, and spread God’s love in the world while there is still time.
6. Wake up and stay awake
Paul’s call to awake is not a one-time alarm clock. Believers must choose ongoing wakefulness. Just as physical sleepers can hit the snooze button, it’s possible to zones out spiritually again and again. We need regular reminders not to lapse back into spiritual slumber.
Each generation needs to hear Paul’s urgent call afresh: “It is high time to awake out of sleep!” Complacency must give way to conviction. Spiritual lethargy must yield to lively faith. Believers should pray daily to walk in wisdom, redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:14-17).
May Paul’s summons keep echoing through the centuries, rousing sleepy saints to vigilance. The hour is late and Christ is coming soon. It is high time to awake out of sleep!