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Wake Up and Live
Wake Up and Live
Besides this you know the time, the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed (Romans 13:11)
Have you ever known someone who just seemed to barely exist? Someone who was so slow, always just dragging around, seeming to have difficulty putting one foot in front of the other? Someone who was always making excuses or complaining about something? Someone who was always intending to do this or that or the other tomorrow? It is tragic that in the physical realm there are many whose lives fit into this category.
As tragic as this is in the physical life of people, it is even more tragic to see and even know people about whom the same condition exists in their spiritual life. The devil works tirelessly to keep people from obeying the Lord and being added to the church (1 Pet. 5:8). When he fails in that effort, he will pull out every trick of the trade in his little bag to convince people that they don’t really have to be enthusiastically active in the Lord’s kingdom. The devil is an expert in convincing people that all they have to do is go through the motions without ever committing themselves heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:28-31, Rom. 12:1-2, Titus 2:11-14).
Hear Paul as he tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, Ye are all the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. My friends, as a child of God our heart should be filled with an eager desire to be a great beacon light shining through the darkness of sin and error guiding others into the fold of safety (Matthew 5:14-16).
Peter tells us that we are as lively stones, built up a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). I do not believe, no not for a moment, that anyone can be a lively stone if they are asleep spiritually! Furthermore, I do not believe, no not for a moment, that God has or approves of dead stones. Just one man’s opinion. If we are risen with Christ, we should be wide awake spiritually, actively involved in carrying out our duties and responsibilities as a child of God (1 Pet. 3:18, 2 Tim. 2:15, Matthew 6:33, Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 15:58, 1 Cor. 16:13-14, Eph. 4:23-32, 1 Thess. 5:14-22, 2 Pet. 1:4-10).
We need to throw away all the old crutches, rid ourselves of all the feeble excuses, and wake up and start living. This means letting God and his word reign supreme in our hearts. All doubt and fear need to be cast aside as we turn every aspect of our lives over to our God. May we ever be wide awake spiritually, pressing on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). To God be the glory forever and ever!
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
