Asleep at the Wheel?

Just a little over a year ago my brother in law was tragically killed. He was on his way to his mother in laws for Sunday breakfast (a family tradition) and then headed to God's house. As he made this trip he had made so many times before, just a short 1 mile or so down the road, a man was coming down the road opposite him. He had apparently worked all night and had a known sleeping disorder. This gentleman fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the centerline and hit my family member head on. Larry never knew what hit him. He was in heaven before the little truck stopped tumbling. Thank God he is a believer and was ready to go! Oh the changes and difficulties that have befallen this family because someone was "asleep at the wheel."

Now before you sign off due to the "emotion" of such a blog...I want you to look with me at today's treasure! It is found in Luke 22:39-46. Take a few moments and read it.... Thanks, now you will understand our context.

Jesus is preparing (and has been for some time) the disciples for their greatest test ever. HE knows that the cross is looming on the horizon so HE departs for a little time with HIS Father to prepare HIM! HE leaves the disciples with only one real instruction...... PRAY! He then goes to pray (just a short distance away) and as HE does HIS anguish and burden causes HIS blood vessels to burst as HE sweats. A powerful sight of the burden of our sin that was being placed upon HIM and the anguish of soul.

When HE finishes HIS prayer time HE returns to the disciples and verse 45 contains our nugget today. "HE found them sleeping from sorrow." MMMMMM......... Let's think on this for a moment. HIS followers had been with HIM now for several years. In the most recent days they had experienced the fullness of HIS ministry and burden. They were exhausted emotionally and physically. When HE had departed, they could hardly hold their heads up. Have you ever been there? So physically/emotionally tired that you could not seem to stay awake? I call it being tapped out! Nothing left or so I think so I usually just give in. Most of us can all identify!

Now here is where HE lets us in that there is something that the disciples missed and may I have the liberty to say to us, we do too! In verse 46 notice what we do not see....When HE came to them and found them, he did not say.... now bless your hearts, you must be tired so sleep on. HE did not quietly come upon them and try not to wake them so they could "catch up" on their much needed and we would say deserved rest. Note what Jesus says...."Why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation."

HE questions their reasoning for their sleeping. Does it not seem logical to sleep when you are tired. Unless I am mistaken, was it not night and isn't that what you are supposed to do at night (unless you have teens in the house)??? Another God moment here for us to consider. HE is calling them to a higher plane of life. One where the physical, fleshly cravings does not control. You see my friends, the work of God IS spiritual! IT is a work beyond the mere physical realm. While HE works in the physical realm HE is not limited by the physical realm.

Here is what we see. HE had called them to PRAY. HE knew there were headed to the greatest test of their faith they had ever encountered. HIS simple yet physically challenging request was to pray. They had yielded to their fleshly desires and were not going to be prepared for the upcoming test. The key for us is found in verse 43. Note what had happened as Christ prayed through HIS physical anguish, emotional exhaustion and got in touch with HIS (and ours by the way) Father. Do you see it? Do you see God making a way through? Do you see God providing in a way that they had not seen? It's right there! An angel appears to strengthen HIM.

I have a few questions....What would have happened if the disciples had prayed? God would have provided supernaturally what they needed to fulfill HIS task for the day! What would have happened if they had denied themselves and stayed up to pray? They would have seen HIS power revealed in a way they had never personally experienced. But because they were asleep at the wheel they missed this opportunity to see God work. And the results of their failures are recorded in the scriptures for all to see.

How about you and I. How many times do we yield to our fleshly desires and not "rise up to pray?" I believe Jesus was calling them to stand up to pray if they could not stay awake. In other words it was their responsibility to deny their flesh, to bring it into subjection. How often are we "too tired" to join the LORD in HIS work? "Too busy" to pray, visit or even just be faithful to HIS house of worship. Other things rob us and our refusal to deny self has left us unprepared for today's battles.

Today's church lacks HIS power because we refuse to deny ourselves anything. We call it "legalism" and try to justify our lack of devotion to HIM not understanding it is nothing more than loving ourselves more than we love our LORD. I will say this today, have you risen up to pray lately? Stood up so that you would not be asleep at the wheel? Ask God today where you are sleeping when you should be on guard and preparing for today's journey. It's a heart issue my friend. An issue of our heart. Do you love HIM and others enough to wake up? That is my prayer this morning! Rise up O church of GOD!

Blessings
Bruce