“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
(Ephesians 5:14)
The interesting thing about this verse, besides its beauty, is its context. Paul is in the middle of a discussion of the new life in Christ, urging Christians to reject the darkness of what the world has to offer, when he inserts this bit of poetry. He's throwing us back to what Christ has done for us in salvation. In the grand language of redemption, our sanctification echoes our regeneration. Every day we need to be roused from the slumber of sin and complacency to experience the glory of Christ.
There is such a depth to the theology of sanctification. It has nothing to do with proving our worthiness to God. It's expressing our gratitude. It's telling the world the story of our salvation. It's anticipating our future, and the last time we will ever arise from a slumber.
Our lives are to be living pictures of the work Christ has done, continues to do, and promises to perfect, in our souls. God is still glorified each time we spiritually jolt awake and realize we have been lazy in our walks; His grace shines in the mercy of waking us up.
Kind of hits home.
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