Don't wait for heaven to live triumphantly
God has made a way for you to wake up. There’s way too much to see and do and enjoy and celebrate to stay in bed.
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
I’m not a morning person. Anyone who has spent time with me knows this. I need a cup of coffee in me before I’m coherent. My brain works just fine for the most part, but the connection between my brain and my mouth isn’t functional without caffeine.
Waking up can be a challenge for some people, that’s for sure. Some of us are geared for mornings, and others of us are night owls. But no matter what time of day works best for you, we can all agree that once we are awake, life seems clearer and less confusing.
When you’re asleep, you aren’t really paying attention. You can’t keep track of conversations or events. You aren’t able to do anything consciously. You’re just a barely aware lump.
Before we meet Jesus, all of us exist in a state of spiritual numbness. We are born spiritually dead, without a connection to God. That’s the result of Adam’s choice in the garden to rebel against God’s one rule.
Because of Adam’s choice, we are born asleep to who God is and what He wants to accomplish in our lives. We can’t speak to Him. We can’t hear Him. We can’t perceive how He works.
When we choose to trust Jesus for salvation, all of that changes. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, and He restores our connection to God.
He wakes us up.
Because of what Jesus did for us, because of Jesus’ choice on the cross, God made a way for us to become spiritually alive. He opened the door for us to live. Not just to exist. To thrive. To grow. To participate in what God is doing in our everyday lives.
Don’t choose to stay asleep. God has made a way for you to wake up. There’s way too much to see and do and enjoy and celebrate to stay in bed.
Don’t believe that your life will only truly begin in eternity. Not at all. We have the opportunity to live an abundant life while we are on earth. We have the opportunity to live in victory, in triumph today.
Questions for Reflection
How can you tell if you are asleep to what God is doing in the world?
What are some examples of what God is doing in your life right now?
If you believed that God had made it possible for you to live in victory today, how would your life change?
Weekly Memory Verse
