SLEEPING by Jos. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1868

SLEEPING

By Jos. Clarke

We are warned in the Scriptures of the danger of stupor, insensibility, and lukewarmness, in the service of God; and the term “sleep” is used to convey an idea of this condition.

What is this sleep spoken of? Certainly the term is figurative. It is best understood by applying it to temporal matters.

A farmer leaves his farm in the care of his hired man, for a time. Soon as the owner is absent, the hand becomes neglectful of business, the weeds grow on unmolested, the fences become dilapidated, the bars and gates are left open, the whole premises immediately show neglect. Cattle and other stock roam at large, or, in some cases, die for want of care. Crops are neglected, or gathered with waste and damage; and suddenly the owner returns, to find himself involved in pecuniary difficulty. What is the matter? Ah! his hired hand has been asleep; that is, he has been neglectful, idle, unfaithful.

To apply this illustration: The farmer who leaves land in the care of his servant, may represent the Creator, who entrusts us with the care of our own souls’ interests, and the spiritual welfare of those who are more or less under our influence, or care. We neglect to keep our hearts, neglect watchfulness and prayer, or practice them so negligently that Satan comes in unawares; and evil thoughts, worldly plans and interests, come in and fill the soul. The Bible becomes a dry study; heart-work becomes tedious; prayer becomes a form; and watchfulness is hardly practiced, unless it is to watch for gain, and self-interest. All at once we are aroused by the voice of our employer, who calls us, by his servants, to awake. What have we been doing? Ah! the great trouble is, we have neglected our work given us by the Master, and Satan has come in, and taken the authority. He takes advantage of neglect, and directs those who should have obeyed the rightful Lord.

Now how shall we awake? By doing our first works. First, by thorough repentance of past neglect and sin, and renewed consecration to God. Next, by going forward in duty, strengthening the things that remain, and are ready to die all around us; by watchfulness and prayer; by alacrity in the performance of every duty of life; religious duties first, let us remember, and temporal labors always secondary; awake, that is, awake to see and appreciate; to obey, to labor, to watch, with ear, and eye, and heart, and soul, the workings of God’s Spirit in ourselves and in others; to be lively and zealous, yet prudent and discreet; to see that the ear is sanctified, so that we may discern and reject the words of those who lead astray; and to accept the words of the Good Shepherd; to see that the eye is sanctified to discern what is displayed to seduce and charm us away from the path of rectitude, and to accept the influence of such displays of God’s works and power as are calculated to elevate the soul; that our eyes may be turned away from beholding vanity; to see that the tongue is sanctified, that no word of evil may be uttered, and thus Satan be served; but that words of purity and wisdom may be uttered by this ready means; to see that the heart is sanctified, that no evil may lurk in its hidden depths, no evil passions, nor low desires, but high and holy thoughts of God and Heaven, and love to our neighbor. Thus may all the five senses be sanctified, and holy; and all will subserve the Master’s work.

Awake; that is, be alive to our Master’s work, attentive, ready, devoted, sincere, honest, pure from lust of gain. Oh! let us not mix the love of money with holy labors. Separate the secular from the religious, the common from the profane. Awake; that is, to study to do our duty, study to know it. I have not begun to tell you all it means. JOS. CLARKE.