Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Are You A Sleeping Christian?

REVELATION 16:15 -“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

THEME OF THE DAY. ARE YOU A SLEEPING CHRISTIAN? The Bible uses multiple metaphors to describe the Christian life. In Brian Hedges’ excellent book, Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline, he offers these insightful statements about three of these metaphors. Hedges writes, “The Christian life is a journey, a race, and a battle. As pilgrims, we travel the long and winding road from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. As athletes, we are called to forget what lies behind and, with eyes fixed on Jesus, to cast aside every hindrance to completing the race of faith. And as soldiers, we must ready ourselves for battle by putting on the gospel armor and relying on the wisdom and strength of Jesus, our brother, captain, and king. These biblical metaphors have shaped the Christian imagination for centuries. Implicit in each picture is the need for eyes-wide-open watchfulness. In the ancient world travel was fraught with danger. Believers are citizens of heaven but pilgrims on earth, strangers in a strange land beset by dangers, toils, and snares. The race set before us is not a one-hundred-yard dash, but a marathon strewn with obstacles. And soldiers at war have enemies. Vigilance is not optional. We must be on watch.”

Please notice the last statements from Pastor Hedges – “Vigilance is not optional. We must be on watch.” Both beg the question of us – “Are we vigilant and watchful Christians?” Today’s words from Jesus are strong motivators to become such Christians if we are not. They are also strong encouragers if we are for our Lord said, “Blessed” or “Happy is the one who stays awake” or we may say, “Happy is the Christian who daily is on guard, vigilant in the Christian life.” But the Lord also shows us the direction this watchfulness is to take – on His Return. Again, from Jesus “Behold, I am coming like a thief.” The word “behold” is used by the Lord to show the importance and urgency of His call to watch for His Return. And friends, what follows is the application . . .

If we are not daily watching our hearts against sins of the flesh, guarding our minds from the poisonous influence of worldliness, and living our lives in light of the greatest of events in human history, the Return of the Lord Jesus, we are in grave spiritual danger. And what might be the spiritual danger confronting us if we are not watching, or in Jesus’ words, “Staying awake” for His return? Spiritual indifference. A lack of watchfulness, falling into a spiritual slumber, leads to spiritual indifference – no hunger for Christ’s return, no hunger for God’s Word to feed the soul; no prayer to enjoy God’s presence; no eternal perspective guiding our decisions; no passion for Christ’s likeness; no burden for lost souls; no commitment to the gospel in our world; no love for God’s church or people . . . . spiritual indifference is the worst condition Christians may find themselves in. The strongest of warnings come from our Lord to such Christians – And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:14-16).

Friends, Jesus is coming back. And He said, “As a thief in the night.” This demands watchfulness, of staying awake. Don’t let the flesh, the world, and devil lull us into a sleepy condition losing the posture of watchfulness. There is a lot at stake . . . stay awake and be ready when the clouds open and our Lord appears.

PRAYER: “Father, don’t let me fall into a spiritual slumber that lulls me into a state of spiritual indifference.”

QUOTE: “We are called to a life of spiritual watchfulness in all things, all the time, for the Lord’s return.”