I read an article this week about a funeral service for a 20-year-old man in India.  During the funeral service, this young man woke up just before he was to be covered with dirt.  He was declared dead by hospital doctors after being in a coma for almost two weeks. His family was informed of his death a day after the family had informed the hospital that they no longer had the money to pay the expensive hospital bill.  

Fortunately for the man and his family, he came out of his coma during the funeral service and began to move.  He was immediately taken back to the hospital for critical care. The family is obviously elated at this turn of events, even though the young man is still in a serious state.  

This story makes me think of Romans 13: 11, “And do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (NIV 1984).  

I meet many people who seem to be existing in a state of hopelessness and death because of the reality of their life’s circumstances.  There are so many who are hoping that someone they love will show signs of life and can be loved back into an existence that is not marred by darkness and despair.  

I assume that the friends and loved ones of the man who was about to be buried where elated, yet in shock when they realized he was not dead and that a mistake had been made.  I still believe that God is in the business of shining light into darkness, bringing hope into hopelessness and bring life to things that were thought to be dead.  

Friends, I implore all of us to wake up from our slumber.  

We must take note of the present age we live in, the age of humanism, science, and tolerance for anything that is against the way the Lord has guided us to live in His Word.  We must wake up to the lies of the evil one who continues to distract us by creating chaos and working to convince us that living for our own self and no other is not only the way to live but our right.  

We are so consumed with our own comfort, preferences, and desire to live in the lies of darkness that we are in a coma and for the most part, have been declared dead by Satan and no longer useful in the kingdom of God.  

Wake up, wake up, wake up!  Salvation is not only nearer now than when we first believed, it is right here and right now and is available for all who will call upon the name of Jesus. 

I continue to grieve over the death that I see every day from the effects of sin.  I see this in broken lives, broken homes, and even our broken nation.  

The Old Testament is full of prophets pleading with God’s people to wake up and repent before the righteous judgment of God comes upon a people who refused to acknowledge and worship Him.  I still believe that our Heavenly Father is in the life-giving business and can do something miraculous with our existence, but we must wake up to his truth first. 

I continue to tell people, “God loves you and there is nothing you can do about that.”  

I will continue to proclaim that Good News until He calls me home.  Oh, my friends, will you wake up to the goodness and love of God?      

Even when things in life seem hopeless, the love of God can bring light to darkness, hope to hopelessness and life to things that are dead.  That Is Good News!

 

Rev. Brad McKenzie is Lead Pastor at Frist Church of the Nazarene, 3810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Orange.