Are you awake?

When someone is scared out of a nightmare, they are usually unnerved and want light immediately. Ephesians 5:13-14 is a call for those who are asleep spiritually. It says, “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Romans 13:11-12 has a similar idea: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

How can someone awaken? If you are spiritually dead in your sins (Ephesians 2:1-2), then you can spiritually awaken and arise by obeying the gospel. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Your sins will be blotted out or forgiven by the blood of Christ through baptism (Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 1:7).

If a Christian goes back to sleep by returning back to sin, they can awake and arise through repentance. The apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

God calls us to be awake, sober, and watchful. This means that every faculty we possess will be attuned to the detection of wrong attitudes and actions, while concentrating on holiness and purity in thought and deed. This defense will keep Satan at bay, and will allow us to inherit eternal life.

Kyle Campbell