Do messages from the Bible challenge you to Rise Up? Reading Romans 13, Paul’s plea to put on Christ stirred my heart with memories of similar words from Mrs. Eloise Brewington in 2011. Paul’s message (and Mrs. Eloise’s) issue challenges to Get Up and Get Going for Now is the Time…Today Matters and Tomorrow May Never Come!

This scripture passage resonates where we are today: “And do this, knowing the time, that now is high time to AWAKEN 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. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.”

Paul’s challenge can be summed up in three words…Awaken, Abandon, and Adorn! He warns people to WAKE UP; the night is almost gone. Now, is the time to Rise Up and act! What we do today matters. He tells us to stop being foolish and undisciplined in the flesh. Paul also says now is the time to ‘put on’ Christ, to adorn ourselves with Him. The inward brilliance of Jesus living in one’s heart should shine like a lighthouse pointing people to safe harbors.

Mrs. Eloise understood Paul’s plea and lived it out loud in love. Wherever she went, the message of Romans 13 was a shining light. She was a shining example every day…letting others see Jesus in her words and ways.

In 2007, she and friends from Prayer Connection prayed over me the night before I was scheduled for surgery. After prayer, she stood over me with a message to ‘get up’, that I would go home the next day and not have surgery for colon cancer. And I did! My faith continued to grow as did a close relationship and deep love for the woman who taught me the power of prayer and Rising Up!

Our visits always ended with powerful praying. I would sit at her feet like a hungry student waiting to be fed. And she did just that! One afternoon, she shared her burden to warn people that time is nigh to ‘get up’, that preachers should preach powerful – not watered down – sermons for people to ‘Rise Up’ and get going for God.

God spoke to her one morning as she lay on her bedroom floor praying for help. This ninety five year old sweetheart had fallen and couldn’t get up. Hours passed with her faith shining and God speaking to her heart a warning to share with His people…”time is short, get up and get ready for I am coming soon”!

After four hours on the floor, she did get up and called for help. After a hospital stay of healing and witnessing, she returned home with the plea for people to get right with God burning in her heart. She had an urgency to share the message. One spring morning, we sat in her front porch swing and she shared the words delivered divinely as Gavin Spell, who worked with me at The Learning Station, recorded her plea for people to rise up and live like Jesus. When I click on this precious video at Tim’s Gift website and watch the wind blow her hair as she shares the truth of Romans 13, I weep for joy.

Today, Mrs. Eloise and Paul celebrate in heaven as the power of their prayers and passion of their love for Jesus live on here in people’s lives who listened to their pleas. Paul’s preaching and her praying on the streets of gold is surely a sweet sight to behold. One day Jesus will return to take those who are ready to meet the Master to their heavenly Home. Many will Rise UP to greet Him while others will meet their doom. Are we prepared for that day that could come in the twinkling of an eye?

Ending this story with a plea for people to Awaken and cherish a close relationship with the Lord and loved ones, Abandon things that are not pleasing to God, and adorn ourselves with Him is what Paul, Mrs. Eloise, and Jesus would want. For anyone too busy, heavily burdened, not living in right relationship with Christ, with ought against a brother, sister, or friend, with hardened heart – unrest and weariness within, take time to humbly bow and give it all to Him. He will wash away any sin and fill hearts with joy, love, and dreams of that beautiful shore!

Then, Rise Up – Revived and ready to enjoy life… for every day with Jesus will be sweeter than the day before!

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By Becky Spell Vann

Contributing columnist

Becky Spell Vann is the owner and operator of Tim’s Gift and The Learning Station.