Wake Up and Move

How many times have you said to yourself, “I just want to stay in bed today.” Tiredness can be draining. You’d rather sleep the day away. Many of us have felt that on some level because of the pressures we face or because of how we feel emotionally. But have you ever noticed, that the longer you stay in bed, the harder it is to get up. If we don’t get up and moving, our bodies remain in this state of slumber and immobility. Our bodies were made to be active throughout the day and not remain stationary. Exercise is important. Activity can be good. So that when it’s time to rest, your body uses it to rejuvenate itself rather than becoming more immobile. The unfortunate reality that we face as believers is that many of us live a faith life that is in a state of slumber. We’ve received salvation, but are just coasting through the rest of life. But we weren’t made for that. We’ve been called to more. 

Paul writes in his letter to the Roman church with a sense of urgency for the days ahead to do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber (Romans 13:11a NIV). The same urgency that Paul wrote to the Romans is still present for us today. Spiritual slumber is subtle. It isn’t always rebellion; often it’s complacency. It’s the slow drift of distraction, the comfort of routine, or the quiet numbing of our hearts by busyness, entertainment, or worry. Yet Paul says we cannot afford to remain asleep. Why? because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:11b-12 NIV).

This is not meant to frighten us but to focus us. The story is moving toward its conclusion. The “night” of sin and brokenness is almost over, and the dawn of Christ’s return—the full unveiling of His kingdom—is closer than ever. This means our lives should be lived with the clarity and integrity of people who belong to the day. People who have been changed by the grace of Jesus Chirst. Paul goes further to say that we should clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14 NIV). Just as we take off dirty clothes at the end of the day, so we are called to strip away the practices and attitudes that belong to the old life we lived before we were redeemed. However, the life of a believer isn’t only about what we remove; it’s about what we put on. Paul writes, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” And the truth is that this isn’t a one-time wardrobe change but a daily rhythm. Every morning, we wake with the choice: will I walk in the night or in the day? Will I wear the garments of self-indulgence, or will I dress myself in Christ’s humility, compassion, and love? Don’t remain asleep anymore in the state of slumber, lulled into a sense of security and safety. It’s time to wake up and get moving.