So Many Are Asleep …
Wake Up!
James E. Farley
Just a short time before enduring the pain and anguish of the cross, our Lord took the disciples to Gethsemane. He told them to sit at a certain place while He went to pray. He took with Him Peter, James, and John and said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.” We remember how he prayed to the Father concerning the trails that were soon to come upon Him. “… Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Our Lord came back to where Peter, James, and John were and found them sleeping. He said, “Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour?” He went back to His prayers, and when He returned He found them asleep again. (Read Mark 14:26-43).
In the very face of this, the greatest event to embrace mankind, the disciples seemed clueless, and they slept. This great event, the crucifixion of the Son of God, the shedding of His pure and precious blood for redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), seemed to elude the thinking of these disciples at this time. They were tired, and they slept.
The results of His shed blood, the forgiveness of sins, and the purchasing of the church of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Revelation 1:5; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25) seem also to elude the thinking of some today. Many, because of the power Satan expresses through trials, persecutions, tribulations, the cares and the deceitful riches of this world, etc., seem also to be asleep to what is really and truly important. Many think little of the church and, in fact, seem to think much more of the world of politics, money, material possessions, etc. than they think of Christ’s church! Like the disciples, they are asleep.
Paul wrote of some at Corinth who were not discerning Christ’s body. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:30). To these kinds of folks, we need to shout, “now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11). Yes indeed, sometimes even members of the church need a wake up call! To the Corinthians he wrote, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33, 34). In the midst of a discussion concerning the darkness of the world, contrasted with the marvelous light from God, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:14). He had earlier reminded them that they were in darkness before, but now they were light in the Lord. He said, “… walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
We need to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:1-5) because many are sleeping and drifting into false ways, and into indifference. We need to shout for them to WAKE UP! We know that while some slept the enemy came and “sowed tares among the wheat.” (Matthew 13:24ff). Yes, indeed, false ones can come in “unawares.” They “creep in” with “damnable heresies.” (Cf. Galatians 2:4-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 4). Furthermore, Christians, the Lord is coming again; so we must “not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
Let us pray, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6). -1179 Mark Wayne Dr., Louisa, KY 41230. preechfarley@yahoo.com