Asleep In the Light

 Webster's Dictionary has quite a few definitions for sleep:

-The absence of wakefulness and consciousness of ones surroundings-

-The occurrence of dreaming-

-A state of torpid inactivity-

-Death-

-A state marked by diminution of feeling followed by tingling-(example, your foot has fallen asleep)

-Hibernation-

-Slumbering-

I was actually surprised that there were so many definitions for sleep!

Now I will admit a pet peeve:  People who sleep during church.  Not the ones who just pulled an all night work shift and wanted to come to church, I'm talking about the people who, once they sit down in the pew, get settled in for the Message, go to sleep.  Every Service.  I want to walk up to that person, lean down into their ear and shout, "WAKE UP!  GOD'S WORD IS BEING PREACHED!"

That's the definition of 'the absence of wakefulness,' but I want to zero in on the other definitions:

"Inactivity, loss of feeling, slumbering, hibernation."  That occurs when we have gotten too comfortable in our walk with the Lord.  We are content with where we are and have become lazy to the work God is still calling us to do.  That's a serious place to be.  We begin to neglect the needs of those around us.  Our hearts are no longer stirred for Outreach.  Our love to help meet the needs of others has dried up.  The urgency to reach souls for Christ has faded.  Do you see where I'm going with this?

I had to ask myself, "Am I asleep for the cause of Christ?"

I had to ask God to pinch me to make sure-

We have no time to waste, Jesus will be here soon.

But that's just me!

"The world is sleeping in the dark, that the church just can't fight, 'cause it's asleep in the light."

Keith Green

1 Thessalonians 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.