Are We There Yet?

“Wake up O Sleeper” is the phrase that has been on repeat in my spirit over the past few months. As I look around, I question, have we fallen asleep? Ephesians 5:14 “Wake up, O Sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

I was listening to a study this week and they shared the statistics that between 2000 and 2020 40 million Americans have walked away from their faith. 20 million are no longer practicing Christians, meaning they don’t go to church or have a relationship with God, but if asked they would say they believe. The second group are now unbelievers, agnostics, or atheists. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

As I listened, I began thinking, well…what about the rest of us? I was brought back to “Wake up O Sleeper!” Have we been lulled to “sleep” by the lullabies of apathy and distraction?

This past weekend my husband and I watched Before the Wrath. It’s a documentary illustrating the parallels between Jesus’ return and a Galilean wedding. As Christians, one of our promises is that Jesus is coming back for us, his “bride”. Jesus’ disciples were Galilean. When he shared Matthew 24 & 25, they would have understood what he meant.

The piece that I haven’t been able to get out of my head is Matthew 25:1-4 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bride groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”

In a Galilean wedding no one knew the time or hour it would take place except for the father of the groom, and it always happened in the middle of the night. Ladies, these girls slept in their make-up! They were ready for their groom to show up at any minute. Are we?

The oil is a reference to the Holy Spirit. When he speaks to us about forgiveness, repentance, our compromises, complacency, and distractions are we listening? Are we about his business? Has our Christianity become a religion, rather than a relationship? Are our jars full? John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”

When I started writing he reminded me of these pictures of my kids falling asleep in the car. After many long trips home I can still hear them saying over and over, “Are we there yet?” As the days pass, I find myself asking that same question. I’m weary from my journey. I long for my eternal home.

This picture of my middle son is the epitome of how I feel some days. He was so tired and weary from the trip, he put his blanket over his head trying to find rest.

On those "get me outta this car" kind of days, I'm reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith" 1 Timothy 6:12. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 tells us not to grow weary of doing good, and Colossians 3:2 says to set our minds on things that are above. Just like my daughter, we have to focus on the task at hand. He created us each with gifts and a purpose. Don’t miss what he’s calling you to. 1 Corinthians 15:58

But the wedding can’t happen without a betrothal. The groom offers his beloved a cup of wine as a sign of a new covenant with her. Wine is used as a symbol of Jesus’ blood in the Bible, the blood he shed for us at the cross. Just like the bride we have a choice. We can invite him in as our savior, or we can refuse him. He gives us the choice. It’s a decision we all have to make.

Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He told his disciples to wait and terry, but when he came back, they were all asleep. When he needed them most, they had all fallen asleep! Mark 14: 32-41 What areas in your life is he saying, "Wake up, O Sleeper, rise from the dead."

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Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Revelation 3:1 “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”