“The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13: 11b
My son and I were sharpening our minds watching the Super Friends the other day when we were reminded of an important truth: Never wake up someone who is sleepwalking. The Wonder Twins and their space monkey Gleek made it sound like under no conditions should we ever attempt this. We would certainly cause irreparable physical and mental damage if we were to interrupt a sleepwalker’s meanderings. But after doing a little research, I discovered that although the sleepwalker might be confused and disoriented, it is not actually dangerous to wake them up.
Which is good news, because on this New Year’s Day of the Church Year, you and I are challenged by God’s Word to wake up! It turns out that it’s not dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker—and if that person is sleepwalking through their faith and life with God, it is more dangerous for them not to wake up.
Paul writes to the Roman Christians, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
If these words do not stir at least a little excitement within, then you might be sleepwalking in your walk with God. Paul writes that the Day is almost here, and the Day he’s talking about is not Christmas Day; he’s talking about the Day when Jesus will come back to earth in plain sight—the Day when all of the promises that He has made about the future will be fulfilled—the Day when He will return to usher in an eternal era of sinless perfection and complete joy for those who have trusted in Him. That Day is nearer now than it has ever been! So let us put on the armor of light! Let us live out an eager Advent expectation that our Lord could burst through the clouds at any moment, flanked by angels, ready to re-create all things! Is that how you’re living? Is that a daily, controlling thought in your life? Or are you, to be honest, sleepwalking?
Are you sleepwalking through your daily routine? In Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, a young woman named Emily dies at the age of 26. She asks the stage manager narrating the play if she can return for a brief visit with her family. He grants her the wish, advising her to choose the least important day in her life—which "will be important enough," he says. She chooses to return on her 12th birthday, only to find her father obsessed with his business problems and her mother preoccupied with kitchen duties. Emily exclaims, "Oh Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me. Mama, 14 years have gone by. I'm dead!" Unable to rouse her parents, Emily breaks down sobbing. "We don't have time to look at one another…Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?" Are you aware of the blessings that surround you? Or are you sleepwalking right past them?
Are you sleepwalking through your daily walk with God? Do thoughts of Him occur to you as you handle your daily responsibilities? How often do you let the Word of God speak to you Monday through Friday? Do you let Christ-like compassion into your relationships? Do you let Christ-like goodness influence your actions and decisions? What does your schedule of activities say about the place that Jesus has in your daily life? If someone followed you around looking for clues, would they be able to pick up on the fact that you are a believer in Jesus?
Are you sleepwalking through your worship of God? Do you realize that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come to be with us as we speak and sing His Words? Do you understand that the Son of God has arrived to give you his body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins? Could we really be sleepwalking as Christ tries to serve us with His Word and Bread of Life? Could we really resent giving up an hour in which the Lord of creation is trying to give us His good gifts? If we think that we can be Christian with no commitment, or if we think that we can believe in Jesus yet hold him at arm’s length and neglect spending time with him, well, then, we’re sleepwalking right towards the edge of a cliff.
In love and concern for us the apostle Paul cries, “Wake up from your slumber!” Wake up and turn around! Wake up and unplug from those things that keep you asleep! Wake up from a passive, sleepy, brain-neutral spirituality! Become active, wakeful, intentional about bringing Jesus into every corner of your life. Wake up to the reality of Jesus serving you in worship and look for ways you can serve Him in return. Wake up and strap on the armor of light, because living out this Christian faith is going to be a battle! If you think that being a follower of Jesus is kind of boring and bland, I’d be willing to bet that you’re still sleepwalking. If your faith is awake; if you are aware of Jesus’ presence; if you are putting Jesus out there, representing Him, then your life is going to be a lot of things, but boring is not one of them. Living for Jesus will take you to places you never thought you would go; will show you things you never dreamed you would see; and will cause you to give things you never thought you’d be willing to give. You will literally battle evil every day; that’s why you need the armor. Don’t forget, though, God fashioned the armor of light; He has filled it with His power to guard and protect. The Lord’s desire for you is that you would live wide awake for Him.
The time has come to set aside our selfish sins and to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has woven the most beautiful garment for you. He paid for its life-giving fabric with his innocent suffering and death on the cross. Every stitch was made with you in mind. Woven into every seam and strand is the power to forgive sin, and to give the wearer life with eternal purpose. And here is some excellent news: if, at some point in your life, you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at that moment you put this garment on. You were clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ. You may be aware of it; at some times you may have been oblivious to it as you were sleepwalking; the only thing that matters is that today, right now, you wake up and grasp the enormity of what Jesus has done for you. The only thing that matters is that you put on and proudly wear the life that Jesus has created for you. Wake up and put on these clothes and live life to the full! Amen.
My son and I were sharpening our minds watching the Super Friends the other day when we were reminded of an important truth: Never wake up someone who is sleepwalking. The Wonder Twins and their space monkey Gleek made it sound like under no conditions should we ever attempt this. We would certainly cause irreparable physical and mental damage if we were to interrupt a sleepwalker’s meanderings. But after doing a little research, I discovered that although the sleepwalker might be confused and disoriented, it is not actually dangerous to wake them up.
Which is good news, because on this New Year’s Day of the Church Year, you and I are challenged by God’s Word to wake up! It turns out that it’s not dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker—and if that person is sleepwalking through their faith and life with God, it is more dangerous for them not to wake up.
Paul writes to the Roman Christians, “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
If these words do not stir at least a little excitement within, then you might be sleepwalking in your walk with God. Paul writes that the Day is almost here, and the Day he’s talking about is not Christmas Day; he’s talking about the Day when Jesus will come back to earth in plain sight—the Day when all of the promises that He has made about the future will be fulfilled—the Day when He will return to usher in an eternal era of sinless perfection and complete joy for those who have trusted in Him. That Day is nearer now than it has ever been! So let us put on the armor of light! Let us live out an eager Advent expectation that our Lord could burst through the clouds at any moment, flanked by angels, ready to re-create all things! Is that how you’re living? Is that a daily, controlling thought in your life? Or are you, to be honest, sleepwalking?
Are you sleepwalking through your daily routine? In Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, a young woman named Emily dies at the age of 26. She asks the stage manager narrating the play if she can return for a brief visit with her family. He grants her the wish, advising her to choose the least important day in her life—which "will be important enough," he says. She chooses to return on her 12th birthday, only to find her father obsessed with his business problems and her mother preoccupied with kitchen duties. Emily exclaims, "Oh Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me. Mama, 14 years have gone by. I'm dead!" Unable to rouse her parents, Emily breaks down sobbing. "We don't have time to look at one another…Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?" Are you aware of the blessings that surround you? Or are you sleepwalking right past them?
Are you sleepwalking through your daily walk with God? Do thoughts of Him occur to you as you handle your daily responsibilities? How often do you let the Word of God speak to you Monday through Friday? Do you let Christ-like compassion into your relationships? Do you let Christ-like goodness influence your actions and decisions? What does your schedule of activities say about the place that Jesus has in your daily life? If someone followed you around looking for clues, would they be able to pick up on the fact that you are a believer in Jesus?
Are you sleepwalking through your worship of God? Do you realize that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come to be with us as we speak and sing His Words? Do you understand that the Son of God has arrived to give you his body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins? Could we really be sleepwalking as Christ tries to serve us with His Word and Bread of Life? Could we really resent giving up an hour in which the Lord of creation is trying to give us His good gifts? If we think that we can be Christian with no commitment, or if we think that we can believe in Jesus yet hold him at arm’s length and neglect spending time with him, well, then, we’re sleepwalking right towards the edge of a cliff.
In love and concern for us the apostle Paul cries, “Wake up from your slumber!” Wake up and turn around! Wake up and unplug from those things that keep you asleep! Wake up from a passive, sleepy, brain-neutral spirituality! Become active, wakeful, intentional about bringing Jesus into every corner of your life. Wake up to the reality of Jesus serving you in worship and look for ways you can serve Him in return. Wake up and strap on the armor of light, because living out this Christian faith is going to be a battle! If you think that being a follower of Jesus is kind of boring and bland, I’d be willing to bet that you’re still sleepwalking. If your faith is awake; if you are aware of Jesus’ presence; if you are putting Jesus out there, representing Him, then your life is going to be a lot of things, but boring is not one of them. Living for Jesus will take you to places you never thought you would go; will show you things you never dreamed you would see; and will cause you to give things you never thought you’d be willing to give. You will literally battle evil every day; that’s why you need the armor. Don’t forget, though, God fashioned the armor of light; He has filled it with His power to guard and protect. The Lord’s desire for you is that you would live wide awake for Him.
The time has come to set aside our selfish sins and to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has woven the most beautiful garment for you. He paid for its life-giving fabric with his innocent suffering and death on the cross. Every stitch was made with you in mind. Woven into every seam and strand is the power to forgive sin, and to give the wearer life with eternal purpose. And here is some excellent news: if, at some point in your life, you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at that moment you put this garment on. You were clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ. You may be aware of it; at some times you may have been oblivious to it as you were sleepwalking; the only thing that matters is that today, right now, you wake up and grasp the enormity of what Jesus has done for you. The only thing that matters is that you put on and proudly wear the life that Jesus has created for you. Wake up and put on these clothes and live life to the full! Amen.
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