What Will Wake You?

This headline got my attention, Resource Officer Used Taser to Wake Sleeping Student. I couldn’t believe a police officer assigned to protect students would actually tase one to wake him up. Then I read the whole story. The officer was called into a classroom where a teacher and several students had attempted to wake a student who had fallen asleep at his desk. The officer also attempted to arouse him and couldn't, so she took the cartridge out of her taser (disarming it) and pulled the trigger so that it merely made the loud static taser noise, and nothing else. It was harmless, only noise, but it woke the boy up. I thought it was a smart move and I applaud her. I thought the real sin was the misleading headline and overreaction of school officials. When I was in high school, I had some teachers who would have overturned my desk, with me in it, had I fallen asleep in class. I would far prefer this officer’s method.What does it take to wake you?Jesus had the Apostle John write to the church in Sardis (modern day Turkey), “Wake up!” They were spiritually comatose, but so sound asleep they had no idea the danger they were in. He shouted, “Wake up!” I can see him clapping his hands while raising his voice. I wonder if he had a taser, would he have used it? There is a lot at stake! Falling asleep to spiritual matters can cost a person their soul. It’s one thing to miss notes in a class or two, but we’re talking about eternity. Jesus wants us awake, alert, and paying attention.Are you? Or have you let the doldrums of life rock you to spiritual unconsciousness? Are you aware of how today's actions affect eternity for you, and for those around you? Are you mindful of the ever present attack of the evil one as he roams the earth seeking souls to devour? Are you calmly sleeping while he is about to pounce?You would not be reading this if you did not hear the voice of Jesus calling you to awaken to his word and the things of God. You are not helplessly sleeping. You sense the stirring within you. Don’t let spiritual sluggishness have it’s way, wooing you back to your pillow. It’s comfort will only be temporary and the end will not be restful, but eternal restlessness. So heed the voice of Jesus, and Paul’s words to the Thessalonians, “Be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded” (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT). Wake up!