Wake Up!
The Light of Christ in a World of Apathy
I recently attended a church service that struck a chord within me. However, this realization I had wasn’t what one might expect.
I walked into a sanctuary filled with nicely dressed people softly chatting with each other prior to service. When the service started everyone stood and began to sing, but as I looked around I was hit with the familiarity and program of it all. I thought to myself, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” Something was missing.
I got the sense that these people were living in spiritual apathy. They were going through the motions of a Sunday morning like they did every week. What about their hearts though? Would they walk out of church any different than how they came in? Is that the point? Why do we go to church? How do we avoid spiritual apathy?
I was quick to notice the indifference most of the people around me were exuding, but it would be unfair not to point out that I too fall into this catergory at times. I think the problem arises when someone thinks they are awake, but they are actually sleeping. They feel like they are living life to the fullest, but there’s still lack. They assume that there’s nothing greater for them, and as a result don’t seek out anything else.
Charles Spurgeon writes, “...[the Christian] can do a great deal while he is asleep that will make him look as if he were quite awake.” This is in reference to Ephesians 5:13-16 which reads:
“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
We can “do” the things, but that doesn’t mean that our hearts are being transformed. There has to be intention behind how we walk, and this intentionallity doesn’t come with eyes that are shut. Sometimes it’s easier to stay asleep because waking up can require us to step out into uncomfortability. But, it’s the end of verse 14, “and Christ will shine on you” that should encourage us to stay awake.
There is something uniquely wonderful about stepping outside on a spring day with a gentle breeze blowing through the trees and the sun shining in a clear sky. Imagine the feeling of the warmth on your face as you close your eyes and face the sun. It’s special. The idea of Christ shining on us is similar because when we are awake and aware it’s so much easier for us to see the blessings that he is pouring out on us.
Yes, there are seasons of life where the goodness of God might feel sparse, but I don’t think I’m alone in saying that if we have eyes that are open to seeing him, we will. Staying awake requires intentionallity. It looks different for everyone, but the important part is guarding ourselves agianst a heart of apathy. In Matthew 13 when Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower he describes a thorny soil (verse 7 and 22). This soil accepts the word but the cares of the world, the thorns, choke out the growth making the seed unfruitful. We may not realize that there are thorns choking out growth in our lives, causing apathy, so we must stay awake. It is then that we can step outside and feel the light of Christ shining on us with eyes wide open.