Awakened to Move
Photo Credit: Patrick Harrigan
The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, the second-best time to plant a tree is today. I love this quote because it’s forward looking. It doesn’t matter whether we “should have” or “could have” in the past, what matters is what are we going to do next.
With that in mind, I want to talk about spiritual awakenings. America and the world had a shocking last few weeks. School shootings, 9/11, an assassination. Rarely are the masses able to see such a stark contrast between good and evil.
It’s no wonder “awakening” is the word used to describe a spiritual turning. Paul says, “…the hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). These past weeks have been a “wake-up call” for the masses around the world.
With churches filled to the brim this past Sunday, we have a charge to maintain the inertia and build on the momentum. See, spiritual awakening is like literal awakening. When we wake up, we have a few different choices. Sometimes we awaken only to fall right back asleep, other times we awaken and stare at the ceiling staying in bed, and yet productivity comes when we awaken and actually get up and move.
See, high intensity moments can only do so much for us. There is coming a day when we will all be judged based on how we lived our lives (Romans 14:12). We have a choice and we have a responsibility in how we respond in this life. Coming face-to-face with evil, seeing it in real time is a wake-up call, but like the earth tremoring during an earthquake, the starkness eventually subsides.
The temptation is to go back to life as usual. Recognize that was a traumatic week and then do our best not to think about it anymore – we fall back asleep. Oh, what a shame that’d be. The charge is to move. Get involved. Ask the hard questions. We ought to be incredibly thankful for wake-up moments, however challenging, because there is a grace in them. Without them we would simply continue in slumber.
It's amazing how a single bullet that was meant to bring silence can be used to awaken the hearts of millions around the world. Can I be a reminder to you, friend – stay awake! It can be easy to look back with regret on all the years we did not give ourselves to the Lord and walk closer with Him.
Walking with God is the same as planting a tree, the best time to start was decades ago, but the next best time is right now. Fight against the lie that tell you it’s going to be too hard or you’re too late. It’s simply that – a lie. The only thing God has required of you is today. The thief on the cross lived his whole life apart from Jesus, but his last afternoon he turned to Jesus and was saved (Luke 23).
Once awakened spiritually, there is often a sense of loss for the years we lived apart from God. The greater sadness – after awakening – would be to continue for another 10 years apart from Him. Let’s not.
If you’re new to your faith, find a friend you trust or a local pastor and ask for guidance. If you’ve been re-awakened in your faith, start walking again in a community of believers, commit to them. Oh, 10 years down the road would the world’s “spiritual hills” be filled with 10, 20, and 30-year-old trees, rooted deep in the things God, shining bright for the glory of the Gospel of Jesus to ends of the earth.
