Wake Up!

A call to spiritual alertness

Sleeper awake! Arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph.5.4)

One of the worst perils of those who explore arctic regions is that of falling asleep. Once the desire for sleep has overcome a member of the party, the others have to be constantly watching him in case he should fall asleep and perish in the snow.

How many of us started the exploration into the unknown spiritual regions with shining eyes and beating pulses, with the warm blood glowing within us. Hearts were eager for the great adventure of faith upon which we decided. But how many of us have become discouraged, lethargic and sleepy as the journey goes on and on, and the expedition loses its glamour, and the goal has even ceased to fascinate us. A dreadful numbness and paralysis has begun to creep over our souls and sapped the vitality and slowed down the circulation, so that the life‑giving joy which formerly sent the warm, zealous blood coursing through our veins, and spurred us on in our quest has become cold and sluggish. Such is the state of many who set out in the race before us, and Paul, anxious to arouse them out of their apathy, gave these challenging words quoted above.

If our spiritual appetite has gone and we no longer have any inclination for spiritual food and like the children of Israel when given manna in the wilderness, we begin to long for the fleshpots of Egypt, let us seek to create an appetite. It is said that appetite comes with eating, and so it is with our spiritual food. As the refreshing water of the Word of Truth begins to slake our thirst and the Bread of Life to appease our hunger, we begin to 'live' again. Our souls are invigorated, we breathe, we open our eyes and we awake from our apathy, become alert, refreshed, restored and strengthened. The stupor that has been holding us in its icy grip loses its hold on us. We get up, stumbling, maybe, but praise God we are up and on our feet once more. Spiritual food and drink is sending the warm blood pulsing through our veins. The old zest for life sets our hearts beating and spurs us forward to new and greater efforts. We are ready for loftier heights, and, by God' s grace, to victory, in the strength of Him through whom alone victory is possible.

May God grant us by His power to shake off any drowsiness that may be creeping upon us, and enable us to be ever watchful "lest he find you sleeping". Walking and talking with companions in the faith is so valuable and keeps us from drowsiness. Working together in the cause of the Kingdom enables to reach forward in new strength from our Master.

Above all, He is the one companion we must have and our hearts will burn within us as we walk with Him, as did two 'walkers' of long ago. Our prayer life will keep us alert and full of energy and activity, and if this too, has become torpid, we can call to the Saviour to help us. He will stoop to our necessity and restore the precious communication, so that we may once more hear His voice, and so that He may "speak comfortably" to us and guide our feet into the way of life. "You show me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. " Ps.16.11. Come, drink deeply of that Fountain of Life, and find Light and Life in Him.

Thankfulness stimulates and enlivens the sluggish circulation and to tell the Lord how grateful we are for His blessing spurs us on. We sing of His Love and the glorious promises of the Gospel, which are all 'yea and amen in Christ Jesus.' We need to praise Him for the beautiful things of the earth, the works of His Hands, and for the love of friends and brethren of the household of faith. There is so much to thank and praise Him for, and as the Psalmist says, by this we enter His gates into His courts. "Open to me the gates of righteousness that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord" Psa.118.19. Praise and thanksgiving will open our hearts to the morning glory, as the lark soars at heaven's gates with its thrilling notes of praise and exquisite joy, and then descends to its humble nest — very simply and very lowly. Here we have an example of the text "He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" and we realise that all that is given to us is the 'free gift of grace'. We shall learn, like the lark, to praise and glorify Him who has given us such blessings and treasures, and to be ever like the lark, hovering over our own humble nest, examining ourselves lest anything has crept in unawares to separate us from the Angel of His Presence.

May God keep us, in these troubled days, from drifting into indifference, or casualness. May He grant us the power to 'shake ourselves from the dust.' If we have lost the power to do even that, may He be gracious and send someone to shake us, even if it's roughly. So long as it has the effect of awakening us out of that dread sleep, so that we hear the sound of the trumpet. It must penetrate and not fall on unheeding ears. "0 you who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it." (Song of Solomon 8.13) "Awake, awake.0 Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendour" (Isa.52.1).

(An abridged article by AS)