“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed”
(Romans 13:11).
I am aware that several of those who read this weekly column are born-again Christians (John, chapter 3). They attend their Bible-preaching, Bible-teaching churches regularly. They give their tithe to the local congregation. Some have been going to their church for a number of years now. Their friends are there and they are comfortable in their routines. They are doing their “thing.”
But often there is something badly wrong with these same Christian believers: they have become all too comfortable, cozy and smug (read “self-satisfied”) with their religiosity and are fast asleep spiritually.
Their love for and commitment to others has diminished. They are content with the mere basics. They do not wish to be disturbed with such foreign-to-them terms as “Evangelism,” that is, reaching out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ. They are happily on their way to heaven and some don’t even pray for those who are on the way to an eternal hell, possibly even including members of their own families.
On several occasions Paul’s admonition is for genuine believers to wake up! He also admonishes them to not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) and to share the Good News of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection with others (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:14ff. and I Corinthians 15:3ff.).
An inbred church is a dead church (Revelation 3:1-6). If you are a Christian, you have a job to do – – yes YOU! That’s why God has left you on this earth after He saved you. It’s time to wake up!
Teacher - Feature 