Concordia University, Chicago, IL
"Therefore it
says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on
you!'" I love the fact that the Apostle Paul quotes an early Christian
song, thereby elevating these lyrics to Scripture. Paul employs a
poetic epistemology to capture what propositional statements often fail to do—to use, not only our reason, but also our senses and
imagination to grasp what it means to answer God's call: "Wake up, sleepy head and experience the
resurrection of the dead!" Paul reminds us
that we live in the twilight of passing spiritual darkness and the dawn of
Christ's redeeming light. It's time to wake up! It is time to get busy! We live
in the new day of God's re-creation!
This is not the time to be apathetic and lethargic. It's not the time to let the world lull you back to sleep with its empty but intoxicating promises. Don't be deceived by the grogginess calling you to spiritual unconsciousness. Wake up and face the challenge of this New Day. It's why we sing the Scripture "This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!" It's why we are comforted by the Proverb "Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes in the morning!" Open your eyes, rub the sleep out, and get moving!
You'll remember
Jacob who was weighed down with guilt and fear late one night. He knew dawn was
coming and would meet his estranged brother Esau after many years. He legitimately
feared for his life and the lives of his family. He did not slip
into a slumbering denial of what could come but stayed up and struggled with
God all night in prayer. He insisted that God bless him. He prevailed. And he
received a new name, Israel, which means "wrestles with God." Follow the example
of Jacob. Don't try to sleep off your struggles, guilt, and fear. "Cast
all your anxiety upon the Lord, for he cares for you."
You'll remember
Peter who denies Jesus three times. He is physically awake but spiritually snoozing through the night. At
dawn, the rooster crows at the very moment Jesus says it would calling Peter to
face his sin and unbelief. Throughout Germany
and Scandinavia, churches of the Reformation replaced crosses on top of the
spires and put golden roosters. Why? To remember Peter and call worshippers to
come out of their spiritual slumber as Jesus says in Revelation (3:2):
"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." Follow the example
of Peter who was so roused awake by the sight of the resurrected Jesus days
later, while still in the fishing boat, jumps into the water, and swims to his
Lord. Jesus restores him with a sobering question, "Do you love me?"
repeated three times paralleling his denials so that he would know he is
forgiven but also get busy with doing the work of the ministry.
You'll remember the
Bereans who were more noble than those in Thessalonia. Because the the Bereans
did not lazily receive God's Word from the Apostles. They received God's Word
dynamically--spiritual wide awake and alert--searching the Scriptures to see if
what they were teaching them was true. Follow the example
of the Bereans who did not let doubt fester in their subconscious minds, but
courageously and consciously addressed their questions and so walked in the
bright light of Christ's truth.
Don't hit snooze
and roll over again. Don't let the weariness of this world keep you on your
backs. Don't pull the covers over your heads with the hope that your troubles
will go away. Come on. Let's get
up. It's time. You'll soon adjust to the Light. Jesus, the Light of the World,
not only will strengthen you but will transform you by the same power that
raised him from the dead.
"Awake, O
sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!"
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