Most of us know the feeling of being startled awake by an alarm clock. We don’t like it, but it’s necessary. Spiritually, the Bible tells us that many Christians have slipped into a kind of sleep—a casual, distracted attitude toward God and the things of eternity. In Romans 13:11–14, Paul sounds the alarm: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” This is not about physical sleep, but spiritual slumber. Life is short, eternity is near, and God calls us to wake up.
Pastor Howell explained that spiritual sleep has several characteristics. First, someone who is spiritually asleep is not dead, but not alert. They may still come to church, sing the songs, or even serve, but they are unmoved by God’s Word and deaf to His Spirit. Second, spiritual sleep leaves us inactive. Just as a sleeping person accomplishes nothing, a spiritually slumbering Christian isn’t winning souls, serving faithfully, or making an eternal difference. Third, spiritual sleep makes us insensitive. A heart that hasn’t felt God’s touch in years is in danger of ignoring His voice completely. Finally, the saddest truth: a spiritually asleep person doesn’t even realize it until God wakes them up.
Romans 13 gives us three urgent responses to this condition. First, life is short. Paul reminds us that “the night is far spent, the day is at hand” (v.12). Time is running out. Our opportunity to serve Christ is shrinking, and eternity is closer than ever. Second, we are called to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. That means putting aside sin and compromise and living with purity and integrity. Third, we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (v.14). The only way to stay spiritually awake is to walk closely with Him, clothing ourselves daily in His righteousness and not giving provision to the flesh.
Being asleep may feel comfortable for a time, but Paul’s message is urgent—wake up before it’s too late. Are you spiritually alert, active, and sensitive to God’s voice? Or have you drifted into slumber? The alarm is ringing. The time to wake up is now.
Reflection Question: If God sounded His “spiritual alarm clock” in your life today, would you be ready to respond—or would you hit the snooze button?
