Wake Up Before It’s Too Late

Something is happening that should get the attention of the Church.

In places where following Jesus can cost people everything, people are turning to Christ.

In Iran, reports continue to tell of Muslims encountering Jesus, underground churches growing, and believers following Christ despite enormous personal risk.

At the same time, I recently heard the testimony of a missionary woman who experienced terrible persecution while serving in a Muslim-majority country. She and her husband eventually returned to America.

You would think she would have been relieved.

Safe at last.

No persecution. No fear. No wondering what following Jesus might cost tomorrow.

But after living in America again, she wanted to go back.

Why?

Because she felt herself falling asleep spiritually.

In the place where following Jesus could cost her everything, she desperately needed Him. She saw God move. She depended on Him.

Back in the comfort of America, that desperation began disappearing.

And that should make us ask a frightening question:

Have we become so comfortable that we are falling asleep?

WE WANT SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN

Every good parent wants their children to have a good life.

We want them safe.

We want them protected.

We want them to grow up in a country where they can worship freely, own a Bible, attend church, raise a family, and openly proclaim Jesus Christ.

But if we want our children to inherit that kind of world, hiding inside our houses isn't enough.

We cannot withdraw from the world, call it being "family oriented," and expect the culture outside our doors to somehow become more godly.

Someone will disciple the next generation.

If the Church doesn't speak, the world will.

If Christians stop sharing the Gospel, culture doesn't simply remain neutral.

If we want our children to live in a world where following Jesus is possible without tremendous hardship, then we need to be willing to stand for Jesus now.

Tell your neighbor about Jesus.

Invite somebody to church.

Pray with the hurting person.

Help the broken.

Speak the truth in love.

Open your home.

Serve your community.

Stop hiding your faith.

Our children don't just need parents who take them to church.

They need to see parents who actually follow Jesus.

MAYBE COMFORT ISN'T ALWAYS A BLESSING

Jesus gave a frightening warning to the church in Laodicea.

They said:

"I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing."

But Jesus told them they didn't understand their true spiritual condition.

Then, only a few verses later, He said:

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."— Revelation 3:19 KJV

Notice why He corrects them.

Because He loves them.

God does not forsake His people.

But throughout Scripture, when God's people become comfortable enough to believe they no longer need Him, God has ways of reminding them just how desperately they do.

Not because He hates them.

Because He loves them.

Because this life isn't all there is.

Eternity matters more than our comfort.

Maybe our greatest danger isn't persecution.

Maybe it's becoming so comfortable that we no longer notice we're asleep.

WE HAVE TO WAKE UP

Paul wrote:

"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."— Ephesians 5:14 KJV

Church, it is time to wake up.

Open your Bible again.

Not simply to read a chapter so you can say you read it.

Live it.

Forgive like Jesus said to forgive.

Love like Jesus said to love.

Serve like Jesus said to serve.

Give like Jesus said to give.

Pray like Jesus taught us to pray.

Make disciples like Jesus commanded us to make.

Tell people the Gospel.

James warned us:

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."— James 1:22 KJV

We have heard enough sermons.

We have watched enough videos.

We have collected enough Bible studies.

Now we have to live what we say we believe.

WHAT WILL OUR CHILDREN INHERIT?

This isn't only about us.

What kind of Christianity are we handing our children?

Will they inherit a faith that knows how to stand when following Jesus becomes unpopular?

Will they know how to pray when everything falls apart?

Will they know Scripture because they watched Mom and Dad live it?

Will they know how to share the Gospel because they watched us do it?

Or will they inherit a Christianity built around comfort, convenience, and staying safely inside our own walls?

We cannot guarantee what the world will look like for our children.

But we can decide what kind of faith they see in us today.

And maybe the greatest thing we can leave our children isn't an easier world.

Maybe it's a faith strong enough to follow Jesus no matter what kind of world they inherit.

Jesus told the church:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock..."— Revelation 3:20 KJV

The frightening thing about that passage is that Jesus was speaking to a church.

They had become comfortable.

They thought they needed nothing.

And Jesus was calling them to open the door.

Church, wake up.

Not tomorrow.

Not when persecution comes.

Not when our freedoms disappear.

Not when our children are grown.

Now.

Open the Bible.

Seek God.

Love your family.

Love your neighbor.

Share the Gospel.

Make disciples.

Live what you believe.

Because the best way to prepare our children for tomorrow is to show them what it looks like to be completely awake for Christ today.

Pastor Scott