Revelation 3:2-3
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
In 1963, as a new Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force, my first assignment was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. I was officer in charge of the basic training records of the new Air Force recruits that were processed at Lackland. Basic training is always an extremely stressful ordeal and you never seem to get enough sleep.
Each day we had basic training recruits assigned to do the janitorial work in our building. On a particular day one of the men assigned to our building was given the task of wiping down the baseboards of the main office.
The Senior Master Sergeant in our division directed my attention to this recruit. His arm had been going back and forth along the baseboard, but had stopped as he had fallen sound asleep with his head leaning against the wall.
For some humor we decided to have a little fun at his expense. We stood over him and had someone shout as loud as possible, “ATTENTION!” His eyes opened and he saw the two of us, an officer and an NCO, standing over him. It was a shock he would not soon forget. We assured him that we would not report this.
In like manner, we often fall asleep instead of remaining faithful to the task the Lord has assigned to us. I pray that the Holy Spirit will wake us to the task at hand as we open the Word and hear “ATTENTION!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil