Are We Awake or Asleep?

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep;" (Rom 13:11)
"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." (1Th. 5:6)

Introduction. These passages impress upon us the need to be awake, watchful (alert) and sober. There are so many dangers lurking in the next moment either to flee or to avoid, that a moment of spiritual drowsiness could lead to terrible consequences. We need look no further than driving to see this truth. “The NHTSA estimates nearly 100,000 crashes each year from driver fatigue: leading to about 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.” From the moment we begin driving, dangers lurk on every side. We look ahead, behind and from side to side, scanning for danger. Anything out of the ordinary leads us to a very watchful state. If we are sleepy or sleeping, we are no longer aware of danger until it is to late to avoid, leading to death, injury and loss. There is no difference between driving and being a Christian, except the dangers are far worse.

Be Vigilant for the Devil.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith,” (1Pet. 5:8).

A roaring lion is a grave danger and no one would dare sleep after hearing it. That roar means imminent danger, requiring sobriety and watchfulness. Even if one became sleepy, they would force themselves to stay awake. Peter’s point is that there are things in this life that Satan can place in the path of an inattentive Christian that could lead to the loss of his soul. We need to realize this and take precautions. “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and suffer for it.” (Pr. 22:3). One who is prudent has assessed the dangers they face. They know their lusts and enticements and learn to hide themselves when they see them on the path ahead. Only the simple will walk through life asleep to all the dangers that confront them.

Walk as in the Day.

“It is high time to awake out of sleep... The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:11-14).

It is easy to be alert to these lusts after a sermon on a specific topic. We are ready, willing and able to be sober. Yet over time we can fall back asleep to them. These works of darkness can destroy us in a way a head-on collision never could. We must always be alert to them and be ready both to fight them off when they present themselves and to repent of them immediately if we lose the battle. To walk properly as in the day and to reject drowsiness, we need to be constantly vigilant. Those who are asleep are not even aware of this danger. They may already be dead and not even know it.

Beware the Darkness.

"But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise" (Eph. 5:13-15)

Once again the Holy Spirit warned of the danger of entering the darkness where we can no longer see. It is all too easy to fall asleep to the dangers of our own spiritual drowsiness. Jesus warned strongly about the thorns that can slowly grow up and choke the word out of our lives. They consist of things we would normally not fear as they are not sinful in themselves, but they can lead us into a sleep leading to death. Our zeal and devotion to the Lord can be “choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life,” or “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” or “the desires for other things” (Lk. 8:14 Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:19). If we are alert and aware of these dangers in our culture, we can avoid and remove them. But if we fall asleep, we can no longer save ourselves. “The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness." (Eccl. 2:13)

At Worship.

"For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor 11:29-32)

Worship seems an unlikely place to fall asleep or become drowsy. Yet here is Paul warning the Christians at Corinth that many of they were in fact asleep. Jesus words “this do in remembrance of Me” no longer meant anything to them. They were no longer even aware that they had left their first love. They had fallen asleep to the gratitude and joy of what Jesus’ sacrifice brought to them. When our remembrance of Jesus’ body and blood are no longer an emotional experience to us, we need to awaken to the implications and wake up!

Conclusion.

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," (1Th. 5:5-10)

Through Christ, and His own power, God has made us sons of light and sons of the day. But what was given by grace as potential must be seized and grown into. We must always be alert to the spiritual realities we have been allowed to see and understand. While the rest of the world is unaware of the eternal judgment, we know and are preparing for it. As those in the world walk in the darkness of night, we walk in the light of the day. We see and know things that God has revealed to us. Yet there is a grave danger of falling back asleep as others do. Can we honestly say that we are watching out for these things and seeking to remain sober and watchful at all times? Many of our friends, co-workers, neighbors and even our family are fast asleep to the light and the dangers it reveals. We need to give careful heed to which path we are now walking.

“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble." (Pr. 4:18-19)