Wake up!

Have you heard about the Challenger explosion?

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger launched off the cost of Florida.

It carried 7 crew members.

Unfortunately, 73 seconds into the launch, there was a massive explosion.

It was such a terrible tragedy for the families of those that died in this explosion.

However, this tragedy could have been prevented.

It turns out that the NASA space program and engineers who produced the various parts knew exactly what went wrong.

The space shuttle’s fuel tanks had an O-ring to seal off any gases from escaping during the launch. However, the engineers that made the O-rings were concerned that the cold temperature during launch would make the O-ring fail.

If the O-ring failed…then the gases would escape and cause an explosion.

..this is exactly what happened. 73 seconds after launch the shuttle burst into flames killing all 7 crew members.

Just think of this terrible situation and how it could have been prevented if only someone would’ve woken up from their careless attitude.

Someone should’ve paid attention to the warnings.

Someone should’ve listened to the engineers.

The sad reality is that many people were asleep at the wheel and are ultimately responsible for the lives of the 7 people that perished in this explosion.

In the Bible, we find similar warnings where people are living their lives as if nothing is wrong.

They are going through this life thinking that everything is ok.

They think they are walking with Jesus.

They think they are living a genuine christian life.

…but God who cannot be deceived knows the true state of their spiritual life.

Look at how he speaks to the christian church in Sardis:

Apocalipsis 3:1–2 ESV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

This church through they were spiritually strong.

Many people saw this congregation and admired them for their faithful walk with Jesus.

But Jesus who examines our innermost thoughts and sees right through us knows the true state of our christianity.

In this case, he sees that church not as a strong spiritually alive church - but rather he sees a dead church in which there is no life whatsoever - they are spiritually dead.

If you were to diagnose your spiritual life…would you say it is spiritually strong, full of life…or would you have to say my spiritual life is on life support.

I find it hard to pray.

I rarely read the Bible.

I do not have a strong desire to gather with God’s people on the Lord’s Day.

I find it easier to enjoy other things and don’t feel as connected to God.

I find myself drifting more and more into sin and feel a better connection with those that do not share my faith.

If we are honest, it may very well be that our spiritual life is fading day by day until there is nothing left.

Although Jesus diagnoses this church and says you are spiritually dead - he offers hope.

He says, wake up.

Do not sleep.

Don’t be asleep at the wheel.

Realize that you are fading away spiritually.

Realize that you are in danger of spiritual death.

How can we be revived when we’ve been so careless with our spiritual life?

What hope is there for us if we’ve not been vigilant with our spiritual life?

Surely something needs to be done…but is there anyone that can help someone that is on the verge of death…or worse who can help someone that is already dead?

The answer is always Jesus!

Jesus Christ who is God - has the power to revive our spiritual life.

Only he can revive us.

…and it all starts with:

Apocalipsis 3:3 ESV

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Remembering what we’ve received and heard.

Remember - it refers to a mental exercise.

We must remember the gospel that we received…the teachings that we’ve heard.

We must meditate upon it…trust the the Gospel that we’ve heard time and time again.

We must ask God that through his word, through the promises that we hear Sunday after Sunday, that God’s word would be applied to our lives and believe that they have the necessary power to revive our spirit…so that we may once again:

Seek God’s face.

Pray fervently.

Sing with all our might.

…and meditate upon God’s Word.