Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arises from the dead, and the Messiah shall shine upon thee.
Ephesians 5:14
Just before he was betrayed in Gethsemane, Jesus had asked his disciples to keep watch over him. And when he returned to find them, he found them sleeping. He immediately confronted Peter and asked, “Couldn’t you watch me for an hour?” Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. in truth the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And despite being alerted, this scene was repeated 3 times (Matthew 26: 36-46). In the midst of such a significant moment, he just waited for them to be alert, connected with the Father in unity with him.
Likewise, at this moment the Spirit is calling us to stay alert. It is alerting us about the times we are living in and moving so that we are wise and make good use of time. Ephesians 15: 15See then how ye behave, not as fools, but as wise; 16 making good use of time because the days are bad.
I reflected on the book of Ecclesiastes where, at the end of the book (chapter 12: 8), the writer of the book tells us, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity and reflects on how life goes by doing vain things that do not build us. And this confronts us to think, what are we doing with our lives? What are we doing with our time?
Let’s give meaning to Vanity so that we can understand the concept – quality of vain (empty, hollow, or lacking in reality, substance or solidity). This adjective is linked to the insubstantial, arrogance, presumption, and conceit, in the same way, this term refers to what has expired, that is, to what is transient, not permanent. In vain are those things that do not transcend, that lack value and meaning, that do not add anything of value and significant change to our lives.
We are already going one more year, and we have been so engrossed in the difficulties that have happened this year, that we have not been able to make good use of the time in the important thing. And today we are being called to awakening because life goes on, it has not stopped.
Many of us may have felt stopped, but time has passed. Because time does not stop, it does not recede, it does not stretch. It is important that we understand the difference between spending and investing time. And sadly, many have spent time, lethargic, waiting for something to happen outside them, when what must happen has to happen from inside them.
I (We) need to think: what have I done with my life this year? What have I been investing my time in? How many decisions have I kept postponing? How much time have I been spending on things that haven’t produced anything for me? What things have been stopped by my inaction? What do I really feel is stopping me? Has the problem really been outside or inside me? In the time where I had to stay away from everything and everyone, how long did it take me to evolve, to grow, to reinvent myself? Am I aware that what I am experiencing in myself today is a product of the decisions and what I did (or stopped doing) in my yesterday? And we could ask some other questions that would help us look inside ourselves before pointing out external situations.
It is the moments of introspection that lead us to the reality of things, that confront us, even if it hurts us. Those which push us when we are detained, full of fear and insecurities that we did not want to let go. The coming times could bring greater difficulties than we have lived to date, and if we have not been able to handle these times wisely, what would happen in the midst of greater difficulties? The lack of decision making in our lives reflects a lack of character and identity. And I read something I want to share with you— “A life without identity or purpose is a premature death.” – JOHANN GOETHE, WRITER.
The writer in Ecclesiastes ended by reflecting: 13 The end of all the speech heard is this: Fear God and keep his commandments; because this is the whole of man – Ecclesiastes 12. There is no other way, in the end, all the answers we need, the engine of change, the strength for that push we need, is in Him. He is the end of all speech. His word says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. If you are looking for a way, if you have not found the truth, if you feel that your life is going without scope or achievement, it is because you have been heading to the wrong source.
If you look for him, I assure you that he lets himself be found, and has the truth and the answers you need. Stop resisting and wasting time, it’s time to stay alert and watch. He is inviting you to enter the secret place with him to give you the instructions you need. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arises from the dead, and the Messiah shall shine upon thee – Ephesians 5:14
