Are you sleeping? If you are, then, “Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” The Apostle Paul wrote these timely words in his letter to the congregation at Ephesus. And, it is a message for 21st century “born again” christians as well. This is fully substantiated in the accompanying verses following which are, “Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-16).
One of the things christians must always keep in mind is our “walk” in this world. Walk meaning how we live our lives from day to day. If our walk does not match our talk, we have to prayerfully take a moral inventory, that is, an assessment of one’s up to a certain point in time.
Our text concerns born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who perhaps have “fallen asleep” (though still physically alive) and their lifestyle has become no different from the unbeliever. In the first place, one of many great reasons we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior is to be different from that of the world, meaning the cosmos or world system and philosophy dominated by Satan. The christian is warned, “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). Jesus, in His high priestly intercessory prayer asked His Father, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that you should keep from the evil one. They are not of the world , just as I am not of the world” (John 17:15,16).
Paul revealed his concern for believers, who were not living up God’s expectation of them. He wrote, “So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Hence he also wrote to the believers in Rome, “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). Paul also challenged the Thessalonians, “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
The testimony of christians who have “fallen asleep” is definitely compromised in the world. This also holds true for the Church in Sardis, as recorded in the book of Revelations. In addressing this Church, which previously had a good reputation in its community, but sadly, the Lord was no longer being glorified. Hence the risen Lord Jesus tells them, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Revelations 3:1,2). It is most regrettable that this church once spiritually lively and active had fallen asleep, thereby not deserving of any commendation from the Lord.
Before being born again, we chose and decided to live in darkness because “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). But thanks be to God, “because of the great love with which He loved, even we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-6). Paul is highlighting the “great love” of God, (which He is its source) reached us in our unlovable and unworthy state, and provided a great salvation for us. To those who are sleeping, heed the call, awake from your slumber and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
Time is indeed a precious commodity and it affects everyone. There is absolutely no time like the present because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Time is fast running out and the “day of God’s grace” will soon come to an end. What does this mean for christians? It means that we must be awake and alert to our spiritual responsibilities both God and our fellow man. “But I trust in You, O LORD, I say; “You are my God. My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:14,15).