Awake Thou That Sleepest

by Richard Allen Kent
(Sullivan, Indiana, USA)

Have you ever felt fed up? How about just totally discouraged about everything around you? Where it seems that no matter what you do, nothing will change. Have you ever been told or maybe told yourself – “What can one person do?” I think we all at one time have had these feelings.

Even the most sincere loving Christian will have their desert times. I remember a quote from Sylvester Stallone and he said in one of his movies that “It’s not how hard you hit that counts, its how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” How much you can take, and keep moving forward?” The true Christian has heart - amen.

If we look into history we will indeed see just how much one person can do. In most all movements, one person had the passion and the drive to convince others to stand with them. One person that didn’t listen to the quenching voices around them, but rather knew what needed to be done and sought to find a way to do it.

How about Martin Luther and his determination to teach truth in the church no matter the cost. How
about Martin Luther King and his determination to bring down the walls of division, even at the cost of his life. Though deemed a mad man, even Hitler being one man with no power or authority at first, almost conquered a world.

Now ask yourself “what can one person do”? There are hundreds of good and bad people throughout history that stood alone, but through their determination and persistence gained the strength of a backing force.

How many of us in the body of Christ are ready to stand alone if necessary. How many of our church leaders sleep while the wolves tear at God’s flock. How many leaders have compromised truth, in the name of progress, and tolerance? How many of our churches are now halls of entertainment rather then temples of holiness.

How many of our Christian teachers still weep at a spiritually lost child? How many would still walk into the depths of Hades to pull out the child everyone says has no hope? How many great potential leaders lay dormant out there due to poverty or lack of the social clique?

Our country and world are in a spiritual downfall. Our churches are asleep and are becoming fruitless. Laws are being made daily that threaten the very voice of each Christian, yet how many choose to get involved? How many people have sat in the pews for years being taught, yet to this day have done nothing for the glory of God.

The time is indeed coming for each of us to decide what and in whom we will stand. God gave man dominion to govern this earth in Genesis 1:28. It is not enough to pray, but our actions must be seen and heard. In James 2:20 we read - But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Ephesians 5:14 reads: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Today stand and have your voice heard concerning truth.