14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:14

The Apostle has called us, in previous verses, to live as children of light. In other words, to remember who we are as Christians and then live appropriately.  In this verse he draws it together in a very graphic call to all people.  It is firstly a call to believers in Jesus who have become drowsy in their life as the Lord’s servants.  Unfortunately, all Christians know all too well exactly what he means by this call to wake up.  We don’t need a new status or new agenda but just an alertness to and energy for living as a person who has been gloriously saved by Jesus.  Secondly, he is calling those who have yet to commit their life to Christ to rise from the death of sin to faith in Jesus and reconciliation to God.  This is again prompting Christians to delight in the present reality of having been raised to new life in Jesus.  He even concludes with a reminder of how we will benefit from this. “Christ will shine on you.”

You may now be living the lethargic Christian life.  There may be little evidence of Jesus shining on you.  How gracious our Lord is to say so lovingly, “Rise sleeping one!”

David Johnston – Creek Road Campus