Wake Up!

 

One glorious Summer day at a pool party at a friend’s house. We played all day, in the water, out of the water, inside the house, outside the house. We played sharks and minnows, Marco Polo, mimic my dive, splash contests, underwater distance contests, even some relay races… There weren’t many moments not spent in the pool or on the deck.  My friend, however, also had a mini-bike, Big Wheels, and a roller coaster in his garage. So, every moment was filled with gobs of fun. We of course snacked with Goober PB & J sandwiches. Goober was a Peanut Butter jar with Jelly stripes already in it made by Smuckers. It looked so cool.  They also had Koogle peanut butter, which was made by Kraft with chocolate, cinnamon, banana, and vanilla flavors.  Every kid wanted these, because we had all seen them on the TeeVee on Saturday mornings with our cartoons. It was a whole day of kid indulgence holding nothing back. Eventually though, everyone at the party left. My mother had an extra errand to run, so my friend’s mom said she’d be glad for me to stay a little while. My friend had gone inside and his mother was just sitting on the steps in the pool.  I was on the Big Wheel riding slowly around the pool deck when the next thing I know, the Big Wheel and I are in the water in the deep end. I don’t remember any of it, until I was awakened by the water. The Big Wheel sank to the bottom and my friend’s Mom came to check on me. Apparently the overindulgences of the day had put me in a sugary, dehydrated, exhausted coma. 

When John shared the Revelation of Christ with the Church at Sardis, Jesus gave them a warning. Sardis was a wealthy city, with luxurious living.  Apparently, the church had been lulled into an indulgent stupor and had forgotten how it was like them to act as Jesus followers. They had the appearance of being alive and doing good, but they were not. Jesus reminds them not to be fooled into thinking that they are living right just because they are living well.  He says,  “‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:2–5) 

As soon as I hit that water on my Big Wheel ride at my friend’s house, I woke up and jumped right back out. Jesus says, repent, which means do a 180, to turn around! Sometimes abundance makes us forget about those who lack, but even worse our contentment can make us oblivious to our desperate need for God.  If these words are a reminder for us today, God, give us ears to hear the Word of the Lord! 

Hang in there people! God is glad to be with us! I’m praying for us all!

Anxious? What's the Answer?

 In my mid 20’s, I had the privilege to go to South Africa.  One of the highlights of the trip was an overnight stay on a gamefarm on the edge of Kruger Park. We rode on a game viewing truck, think padded bleachers on the back of a Landcruiser truck.  He drove us around and we saw many beautiful and unique creatures.  It was amazing. We had a braai that night, think, barbeque with meat and vegetables on a griddle over coals from an open fire.  It was delicious. I had never seen the Southern Cross so clearly in the night sky; it was awe inspiring (think Crosby, Stills, and Nash, “when you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand now why you came this way, the truth you might be runnin’ from is so small, but it's as big as the promise... of the coming day.”).  Our host left late that night to drive home. He told us to walk out to the watering hole to do some game viewing the next day.  He’d pick us up in the afternoon. All I could think of was the intimidating roars of the lion we had heard in Kruger Park a few miles away. It was quite a vulnerable feeling walking out a dirt road armed with nothing but a camera, still groggy from staying up too late the night before. We joked that we didn’t have to outrun a lion, just each other, unless there were two lions! Sticking together, we quickly made our way to find the viewing stand.  We looked intently into the bush, as our host had taught us, to see if we could see any eyes looking back at us: some looking to run from us, some ready to eat us. We saw some amazing wildlife and enjoyed the rugged beauty of the bush, but it was a very humbling experience. 

The Apostle Peter warned God’s people not to be anxious, because God cares for His own. However, anxiety, pride, and lack of connection with God make us vulnerable to a Spiritual Predator out there who is looking to do us harm. Peter tells us to stay humble and alert, remember we belong to God, and we can trust  Him with all those things that make us anxious.  He reminds them, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:5-9)  So, remember Whose family you belong to, stay humble, alert, and sober minded, and give ALL your anxiety to the One who sees us, hears us, is glad to be with us, loves us, and wants to do good things for us! 

Hang in there people! God is glad to be with us! I’m praying for us all!