I was tired most of high school. Overcommitted in every area, I sometimes walked through the day in a zombie-like state, sometimes falling asleep in class. One day, after dozing off several times in my first hour history class, my teacher instructed the other students not to wake me when the bell rang. I woke up in the middle of third hour.
Discombobulated, and very aware of the snickers around me, I awkwardly stood, wiped the drool from my cheek, and made my way to the school office where I was instructed to call my parents and explain my second hour’s āunexcused absence.ā
Hey, Mom. Yeah. I was here. Just in first hourā¦sleepingā¦
Iāll tell you this, the embarrassment was the literal wake-up call I needed. I never fell asleep in another class again.
Spiritual Apathy
Iāve felt similar weariness recently, but itās not physical exhaustion. Yes, that accompanies many days, but this zombie-like state comes from spiritual tiredness, and I sense it from other Christians as well.
Many of us whoĀ believeĀ in Jesus need a spiritual wake-up call. Apathy is one of Satanās most creative tools to distract us in the Christian life. He uses it to keep us from thinking about what we canāt see, touch, and feel. He uses it toĀ dissuadeĀ us from empathizing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Apathy is disinterest. Itās selfishness. This tool is exactly why Paul warnsĀ the Thessalonian church toĀ āā¦not sleep as others do but keep awake and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:6).
Paul is not talking about mere physical rest,Ā but comparingĀ sin to a state of spiritualĀ tiredness andĀ instead callingĀ Christians to be awake and sober ā to have a grip on reality. Spurgeon shows the tragedy of the sleeping Christian with this image:
“A passenger ship reels under a storm and is about to crash on the rocks, bringing near-certain death to the hundreds of passengers ā all the while, the captainĀ sleeps.”
Ā In our culture, we are surrounded by dizzying and intoxicating distractions that make us sleepy and distracted from spiritual reality.
Wake up, Christian!
The more consumed we become with our own interests, opinions, schedules, political persuasions, the more our eternal perspective diminishes and our spiritual tiredness grows.
Apathy Indicators
What are the indicators thatĀ we needĀ a spiritual wake-upĀ call? HereĀ areĀ some questions to consider:
The sermon application is for my neighbor
We hear the Word preached on a Sunday morning, and as the application unfolds, we think only of our neighbor who we believe āneeds to hear that truth.āĀ Have we become soĀ spirituallyĀ weary that we neglect to reflect on our own sin? Are we awake enough to see our own desperate need for the gospel?
Scripture is absent from our weekly endeavors
We dismiss the need for Scripture to penetrate our hearts and donāt take seriously the necessity of learning what the Bible actually says. Do we misapply its words to fit our narratives? Do we see God’s Word as an inexhaustible treasure that affects every area of our lives? Do we earnestly study it to know Jesus better?
We see the world only through our own cultural context
We rarely think about the persecution going on around the world and neglect to pray boldly and regularly for those who die for their faith. We interpret events and beliefs through a very narrow perspective, limiting our empathy and awareness of the diverse challenges and joys faced by different cultures.
Our differences keep us from pressing into the body of Christ
We are so consumed with our opinions on politics, schooling, parenting, and worship styles that we associate only with those who are like-minded and lose sight of the beauty in the diversity of the body of Christ. Heaven will be filled with diversity of color, nationality, age, and political persuasion. As one body we will worship together lifting heavenly praises to our Creator. Are we as passionate about spiritual and eternal connectedness with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we are about our own personal opinions?
Our busy schedules keep us from caring for those in need
Our calendars are filled to the brim, leaving no room to care for someone in need. Are we willing to offer our physical presence, a meal, or even just words of encouragement when we have the opportunity? And are we willing to put aside what consumes our daily schedule to pray for and support those whose lives have been touched by the hurricane and other natural disasters? Whether it be abroad or in our local communities, are we giving our time to these who rely on Christ’s hands and feet?
We have become so consumed with comfort that we donāt exercise faith
We canāt remember the last time we exercised real faith. Are we praying for clarity before saying ānoā to something that may make us uncomfortable? Are we willing to prayerfully consider starting a prayer group at a public school, allow a child to participate in a mission trip, or share the love of Jesus with a family member? Do we trust boldly that if the Lord opens the door, He will provide the right words?
I know I need a spiritual wake-up call.
Do you?
The Lord’s mercies are new every morning and His grace is sufficient for our every need. Even in our weariness, He invites us to awaken to the hope and joy found in Him. Seek His presence, and allow the light of His truth to pierce through our apathy and ignite a passion for His Word and His people. In Christ, we find the strength to rise, refresh our spirits, and embrace the calling He has placed on our lives.
