“Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

-Christ at Gethsemane

Fix your gaze upon them.

Their Spirit is laid to rest. Bathed in the waters of Comfort, they then set their heads upon the pillow of Complacency as they tuck themselves beneath a Careless blanket. They blindly slip into the realm of dreams. Of where fantasy comes to life. Of where imagination comes out to play. Of where reality cannot set its touch upon them. Unaware of The Darkness that permeates the exterior. Unaware of The Evil that is ever chipping away at the walls.

They arise, but with their eyes wide shut. Deep slumber keeps them safe from the dragging of steel upon the floor. Unmoved by the sound of the shackles that have quite suddenly found themselves embracing the flesh. Such deep sleep is sweet. Numb to situational awareness. 

Unknown to them is the creeping of The Enemy among the shadows of midnight. As they have become comfortable with their praise and worship team and youth programs, various things that are meaningless in war, The Accuser has slipped into their pews. As they say “Amen” to this week’s inspired message to take life by the horns, he too gives an amen from the corner of his crooked smile. In time they become blinded by the true Object of their affection in lieu of creature comforts. Whether it be stained glass idols or idols of the world. Just a taste. Not enough to kill. Just enough anesthesia for the bloodshed that is happening in the dark corridors. Until they slip and fall upon the stream, asking “Where did this come from? Who does it belong to? Is this crimson mine?” all the while reaching for salvation from various programs and Jesus bobble heads.

The cracked foundation is laid before their eyes. They watch in horror as The Accuser chips and hammers away at the fault lines. Confusion sets in with the flood of Panic. The draining begins. For some it is Faith. For some it is Hope. For some it is Love, that which is the greatest. For others it is their Salvation, of which was built upon the eroding sands that cannot withstand The Storm. Or simply Time itself. Then they gasp as their breath is taken from them as they fall into the ever widening chasm. Grasping onto Nothing as they descend into the Unknown. 

One by one another bride commits adultery on The Bridegroom with the world, remarrying the Darkness that has swallowed her in his mouth. Ice grips her heart until the day of the epiphany. The day that she asks “How did I get here?”. When she realizes that she has abandoned all that grounded her Faith and has embraced a strange fire. One that burns and scars. One that does not warm. One that does not chase the Darkness into the shadows. Then a small still voice whispers “Because my daughter, you were asleep.” “But my Lord” she will cry, “I was walking with You!”. “But… you were asleep”.

As I dry my eyes to the sight of another fallen child, I am forced to turn my eyes inward. I then realize that I too have been sleepwalking. The vines from the grave have encompassed me and have brought me low to the frigid earth, hardened and infected by winter. How long since my heart has beaten for Him? How long since His blood coursed through my veins? How long since He and I were one like once was? I too was deceived by the comfort of motions. I too had set course with my eyes wide shut and conscience numbed. Thinking that alive I was, all the while cradled in Death.

My Lord, what have we become? Idle amongst our idols. Just one touch. Just one prick to see that we still bleed. Whatever must be done to return us to your Kingdom. To the watchtowers that we can set our sight upon The Accuser and his Darkness encroaching upon our Light. To see his fiery arrows, that we may stand guard bowing beneath Your shield. That we may set Faith upon stone once again as another Storm appears on the horizon. 

Lay to rest our comfort, if that is what must be.

Awaken us!

“Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

-Ephesians 5:14