The Proper Time!

Sometimes people get the timing of doing certain things confused. They go out when they should have stayed in or are guilty of the converse. Some have stood up when they should have ducked and suffered injury because their timing was off. There are also those who were found sleeping on the job and therefore had cause to have trouble sleeping at night.

Someone has said "One must be a live, wide-awake Christian before they can fall 'asleep in Jesus.'" [original source unknown] How true it is there is the need for many to WAKE UP spiritually. (i.e. Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14) It is then they will be prepared for the blessing of falling "ASLEEP IN CHRIST." ( 1 Corinthians 15:18-20) In Paul's first letter to the church at Thessalonica, he exhorted toward the proper focus on both.

Paul warned. . .
"(5) For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (6) So then LET US NOT SLEEP, AS OTHERS DO, but let us KEEP AWAKE and be sober." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 ESV)

However, Paul also comforted. . .
"(13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP, that you may NOT GRIEVE AS OTHERS DO WHO HAVE NO HOPE. (14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. (15) For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP." ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 ESV)

Death for us in Christ is not the loss of hope unless our only hope is for this life. ( 1 Corinthians 15:19) The hope we have in Christ transcends this realm into a peaceful eternity with Him. However, for now we must remain AWAKE to fulfilling the Will of God of which He presently desires us to be involved.

Perhaps when Solomon noted there being a season and time for everything under heaven ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), he could have included a time to be AWAKE and a time to SLEEP. Just as this is so physically, it is also worth consideration spiritually. Recognizing for some things timing is everything, may we remain WIDE AWAKE to the things of this realm now so that we can experience that SWEET REST IN JESUS yet to come.

Have a great day ALERT TO LIVING FOR GOD, KNOWING THE REST WILL COME!
Carl

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