THE SLEEPING CHRISTIANS.
Mark 13: 36-37 KJV
"Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
The above last sentence was a direct expression from our Lord Jesus Christ. He is very much aware of the past, the present & the future. He is the Alpha (beginning) & the Omega (the end). He is aware of distractions & tendencies of slipping off the road that leads to eternal life.
The Lord already highlighted the credentials for making it to an eternal life with, and further noted that, it is a narrow & slim word. It can't take anything extra than our souls. Every other loads and burdens must be dropped to access the Kingdom's gate. We take on the Lord as the ONLY gateway to eternal life.
At salvation, we are empty. Self will, self righteousness, self models, principles, habits and attitudes that seem good are not sufficient to alter and change the nature of man which is depraved, corrupt and sinful.
Knowing our journey to the Heavenly kingdom requires consistent, daily work with Him, which requires maintaining the race till the last breath, and till our Lord, returns. The Lord strongly cautions against side distractions and other factors, capable of derailing us from this mandate, this rugged road and this eternal journey.
He cautions the saints not to sleep. Like the natural sleep, it is a state of unconscious actions,movements, decisions. It is a state of relapse (weariness); insensitivity to the physical surroundings.
Similarly, saints shouldn't relapse, shouldn't go into spiritual coma, shouldn't sleep.
Sleeping here means, we are no longer watching and waiting; we are no longer conscious of sinful habits, practices.
We are no longer praying & depending on the Lord for daily grace & presence. We are no longer able to differentiate between sinful practice & godly actions.
We are soon neglecting the place of prayer & devotions, worship & service, Bible reading & mediation.
Our daily pursuits & aspirations for our secular life, family, health, social, finance & other legitimate needs have soon crowded the ultimate eternal pursuit.
As we go to our offices, we remember He may come today; as we go shopping we are aware He may come; as we attend parties and occasions, we haven't lost that Hope. Whatever and which position we find ourselves, we are constantly and regularly checking up the sky, asking him when is He coming.
We are constantly examining ourselves and ensuring we are still holy, unblemished, unspotted.
We ensure sin hasn't crept in, compromise and worldliness
have not come in. Entanglement and sinful affiliations have not taken us off the rail.
Everybody can be sinning; even the most respected Christians we see as models could have fallen into corruptions, and their lives now call for serious checking, yet, we must maintain our stand and tallness in Christ.
At every point on this rugged road, we must ensure we are purged, cleansed, prepared & rapture-ready.
Be Ye Ready.
God bless
