The Job of Waking Up
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
People who used to deliver ice to homes to keep your food cool no longer wander the streets. The individuals that cleaned up the streets during the time of horse drawn carriages aren’t needed anymore. We rarely seen the milkman delivering milk anymore either.
As times have changed and technology has changed, some jobs that were once known and recognized have faded away. Other jobs take their place and new technology is developed. Of course, there is sadness when some jobs are no longer needed. When someone had dedicated their lives to a certain job it is difficult to see the old ones fade away.
Recently I read about jobs that are no longer needed and discovered a job I didn’t know even existed.
Did you know that at one time there were people hired to go through the streets of cities and knock on your upstairs window to wake you up in the morning? This was before the alarm clock was invented.
People would pay someone to come knock on their window to wake them up so they would not be late for work. They would pay you extra if you continued knocking on the window until you acknowledged them. Kinda like an early form of a snooze button on your alarm.
Of course, this job is no longer needed as there are multiple ways to be awakened in the morning. I supposed you could even have Alexa on your smart device wake you up.
As Christians this job of waking up and helping others to wake up is still very much a part of our calling.
In the gospel commission we are told to go into all the world and make disciples. Matthew 28:19,20. Scripture also tells us that the second coming comes like a thief in the night and that Christians, as sons and daughters of the light, are to stay awake.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a their in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
So the job of being awake and helping others wake up is given to Christians to share faithfully with those around us. It is given to us to share with love and care.
Keep knocking, keep sharing, keep helping others to wake up and point them to Jesus.
We don’t want anyone late to the second coming. Let us continue to commit our lives each day to Jesus and be that faithful witness to be awake in these times in which we live.