The Great Awakening

"Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."  Ephesians 5:14

Here we are. Passing through this life. Surrounded by others, surrounded by problems, surrounded by distractions. Our minds filled with disappointments, triumphs, worries, feelings. Just passing through.  Many days, I feel like I'm just trying to make it to the next day or next event, passing through time on "autopilot." I drive to work and don't even remember the 30 minute commute because my mind is occupied with so many things. I walk through the grocery store and don't even recall passing by anyone as I speed through the aisles trying to get out of there as quick as I can and move on to the next task. I wonder how many times the Holy Spirit has tried to speak to me, but yet I didn't even hear Him because my mind was so preoccupied with things of this world.  I'm sure that I would be appalled at the answer. The One that we should head his every word...my God who desires to use me and desires to use you.  God's Spirit is trying to speak to us...but it's as if His people have fallen asleep. Unresponsive and oblivious to a Holy God, our creator, and the work that He wants to carry out through us. And oblivious to the kind of life we should live while here on this earth, in hopes to worship our Savior eternally in heaven.

In Ephesians 5, it reminds us the we are called to be God's Holy people. His children who are to be a light to the world that all may see His goodness. What does it mean to be children of the light?
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless seeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:8-11). To be children of the light , means that we are to live in the light and not associate ourselves with darkness or things that are not pleasing to God. So how do we know what pleases the Lord and what are these seeds of darkness? If you look at Verse 3, you might just find part of the answer. Here the Word says that there must not be any hint of sexual immorality, any kind of impurity, greed or obscenity because these are improper for God's children.  It also says do not get drunk on earthly wine, but instead be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Ephesians 5 closes by reminding us that the days are evil, but we are to make the most of every opportunity.

The world is full of darkness. The enemy meets us at every corner with temptation, trying his best to trap us in darkness and sin. He desires for us to be defeated. But God has called us to live a victorious life that brings Him glory...but God! I urge you to search deep within yourself. Is there anything that is holding you back from walking in light as a child of God? For years, I tried to live my life just skimming the edges of darkness. Believing in God, but not fully committing myself to following Him and fulfilling His desires for my life. Make the most of this opportunity called life. Awaken your spirit to a living God who has been seeking after you since you were conceived. Allow Him to consume all of you. Strive to reflect His holiness in every area of your life and He will reveal Himself to you more and more each day.  Awaken, arise, and go forth as a light unto darkness!

"One man wakes, awakens another. Second one wakes his next door brother. Three awake can rouse a town and turn the whole place upside down. Many awake will cause a fuss, it finally awakes all of us. One man wakes with dawn in his eyes, surely then it multiplies." -Leeland