Wake Up!

I was sound asleep one night while my dad was visiting. He sleeps on the other side of the house in my son's old room. This night I was awakened out of a deep sleep. I clearly heard my dad's voice call my name. It was like he was just outside the door! (Yes I heard him above hubby's snores.) It was so loud and distinct I almost stood up in bed...dropping the chains of a deep sleep on the covers.

I thought something must be wrong so I immediately threw on a robe and rushed to his room...where I heard nothing but even breathing of a person sound asleep.

The next morning I asked if he had any dreams or if he called for me. We were both stumped. Because the call was so clear to me!

The next weekend after he was gone I was still puzzled and had the hubby go in that bedroom, close the door and say a word with the same loudness. I didn't hear anything from our bedroom. We both wrote it off as a vivid dream.

The Bible tells us a story of a young boy who was resting in the temple and heard his foster-father call for him. Three times he got up to ask him what he needed. The third time, his caretaker told him the next time he heard his name called that it was actually God calling and to say "Speak for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:1-10) The young boy did and became a great servant of God and annointed two kings of Israel because he listened to his heavenly Father.

Last weekend in church, we were enjoying a sermon with our church family. We had a few visitors and as always, our pastor invites anyone to give their life to Christ.

Recently he has been quickened to make a bold request. Normally it's heads bowed, nobody looking and you slip your hand up...no confrontation but then little accountability as well. This weekend everyone was alert when he gave the invitation. It was pretty amazing to see a young man boldly stand up after a pause and speak out loud his decision for Christ.

Think about it, this young man was sitting in church last week. He listened to music and a sermon like everyone else did. When our pastor gave an invitation to accept Christ, he didn't call this young man's name. But something made him stand. Could it be he heard his name called? Maybe like me hearing my dad's voice call while I was sleeping, could this young man hear his name while he was spiritually sleeping?

For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14

Make no mistake dear reader. God still speaks to us. He is calling His children by name and they are standing up. Could you be hearing your name as well? Have you ever stood to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do not let the sun go down until you make sure of that.

Pray and ask God to forgive you, tell Him that you are ready to make Jesus Lord of your life. And then listen to that other amazing sound with your soul...the chains dropping to the floor! Make sure to speak to a pastor or Christian friend about your decision and find a church family that will hold you accountable and help you learn more about this decision.

It is time to wake up!

{Do} this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to {its} lusts.
Romans 13:11-14