Last week a FedEx hub worker fell asleep in the process of loading an aircraft in Memphis, TN.  He woke up and was startled to find the plane was flying over Texas.  While the thought of this man mistakenly nodding off and travelling hundreds of miles unbeknownst to him is humorous, there is a sobering spiritual lesson that came to my mind when I heard this news.

Perhaps, we have all heard the adage: “sin will take you farther than you want to go and make you pay more than you want to owe.”  Sin surrounds us, and, if we are not alert, we can be lulled to a spiritual stupor where we no longer think sin is a big deal.  While today the world may look at things that were considered unthinkable 50 or 100 years ago as “no big deal,” God’s word is timeless.  Long after our short time on this earth is expired, if the world still stands, God’s word will still say the same as it always has regarding the works of darkness and light.

Consider Ephesians 5:3-14:

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Christians are called to be awake and ever vigilant to the spiritual dangers the world poses.  If we do not keep our eyes out, we may well end up some place we never intended to be: in the place of God’s wrath.  Let our sleep come at the end of life’s day when we can rest in Jesus:

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him (1 Thessalonians 5:5-10).

-Mark Day

God never promised His people an earthly life without tears.  While many prophets wept for God’s people, Jeremiah’s tears were so frequent that he is known as the “weeping prophet.”  Jeremiah grew tired and heartbroken over the sinful people he was trying to teach. He wished for a lodging in the wilderness where he could get away from it all (Jeremiah 9:1-2).  He became so discouraged that he decided to quit preaching (Jeremiah 20:7-9).  However, God’s word was in his heart like a fire burning in his bones so he would not quit.  Jeremiah suffered severe persecution for his continual stand for the truth; while the false prophets were lauded, he was thrown into a dungeon and sunk down into the mire (Jeremiah 38:6).  When we consider the march toward sinfulness of people of Judah, Jeremiah had much to weep over, but he also had much that could cause him to rejoice.

Psalm 126:5 says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”  While tears are shed because of pain, ironically they also provide healing for the soul.  Solomon said, “Sorrow is better than laughter; for by sadness of the countenance the heart is made better” (Ecclesiastes 7:3).  Jeremiah could look toward God who promises the faithful that He will wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelation 21:4).  The captain of the Babylonian army when he attacked Jerusalem let Jeremiah go free (Jeremiah 39-40). While Jeremiah had to prophesy and then see the destruction of his own homeland (Jeremiah 44:2), he could look toward a better homeland in heaven (Hebrews 11:16).

While we can feel sorry for those who suffer various pains and persecutions as a result of living faithful Christian lives, we can also regard them as spiritually blessed.  Suffering causes people to desire heaven all the more.  It is not an easy lesson, but those lessons that are worth the most never are.  In this world we will have tribulation, but it is that tribulation that drives us to the one who can give us peace (John 16:33).  Suffering will drive us to our knees in prayer to God.  “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray” (James 5:13).  It will drive us to read the Bible that we might benefit from “the comfort of the scriptures” (Romans 15:4).

If you are suffering, read the words of Jeremiah and draw strength from them.  Let the suffering you are enduring heighten your desire to go to heaven.  It is a long, arduous lesson to learn that to die and be with God is “far better” (Philippians 1:23), but it is what God is trying to teach every one of us.      -Mark Day