That old prophet Isaiah, he’s blowing reveille this morning.
Indeed, the alarm to wake up keeps coming. It passes through all the books of the Great
Book, right to the end. Especially at
the end.
Here I am, tapping words down in a language unknown to
Isaiah, in a time when drowsiness and sleep have a firm hold on this suffering
world. And I of all people, one who
needs to rub the sleep out of my own eyes, here I stretch from sleep for a few
paragraphs on a topic that would fill the volumes of every book in every
library. Perhaps this particular post is
really just for me.
How often have I lived through a day, asleep to the truth of
my purpose there? That the glory of God,
the souls of men, and indeed the growing and gracing of my own soul are at
stake while I remain asleep.
Asleep, making breakfast, without gratitude and awareness of
the gracious hand that prospered the wheat of the earth so I could have my
bagel.
Turning the ignition in my car, heedless to the One who made
the mind of man so great that he could design such a useful machine.
Living and working with other mortals, forgetting they are
eternal beings, to be treated with honor.
To be cared for and understood.
To be forgiven. And to seek
forgiveness from.
Indeed, to be awake to the brevity of life, to its meaning
down to the peeling of the apple at lunch.
To be alive and aware that this world and everything in it is a gift of
God. That even my worst pain drives me
to Him, and will not allow me to go down to a deathly slumber.
To vomit up the sleeping pills of materialism, human
accolades and silly dreams of comfort so I can spend this aging body in the
pursuit of lasting reality.
To open my eyes, pull off the covers, and be willing to get
out of the hazy warmth of just following the rules and stepping into the brisk
awakening air of bold living. I hear you
Isaiah, I hear the bugle call.
And I hear my ancient brother the Apostle Paul, through
these sleepy ears:
“Be very careful then, how you live- not as unwise, but as
wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5: 16
And just one verse before this he says:
“Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will
shine on you.” (vs. 15)
Very convicted I am this morning, as I push aside the
dullness in me. I will sing loud today
at church, and be glad even in my sorrows.
And with thanksgiving for my coffee, and my struggles and the leaves all
over my front lawn, waiting to be raked.
When the test comes as it surely will, I pray I will hear
the bugle boy of God in my ears for the sake of those who are dead asleep. That come what may, I will have courage to live
the Gospel, even if thought a fool. That
one day many will stand with me, by grace alone, by the blood of Christ alone,
before the Almighty One.
Awake and alive for all eternity.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
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