day no. 16,357: when the sun is down, sin is still up

“Satan can climb housetops, and enter closets, and even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this night. Amen.”  — Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Sin never sleeps.

Go to bed in battle gear.

Do not cap off a long, hard day of faithfulness by taking a break from faith. You need a respite from faith like you need a break from breathing. Do not let your guard down. Do not imagine you have it so good that you could not go bad if forgotten at the back of the fridge. This is not a matter of perpetually doubting your salvation, but a matter of perpetually proving it. The temptation is to see lulls in the battle as an opportunity to take a break by taking off your armor for a moment.

1 Kings 20:11

So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’"

You do not take your armor off until the battle is won. You do not take off your gloves in between rounds. You do not boast of victory before your enemy is defeated. 

"Never laugh at live dragons." — J.R.R. Tolkien

Laugh when you're eating dragon steak, but not before. Do not get fat and sassy, but stay in fighting spiritual trim. Don't let your sword rust or your strength atrophy.

Ephesians 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Put on all the armor provided and keep it on. You cannot predict when the evil day will come, but you can prepare to stand in it.

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” — Gen.Norman Schwarzkopf

Suit up.

Stay sharp.