Today, Jesus calls us to be "awake." In the
context of Jesus' teaching, such as in Luke 21:36, this refers to a state of
spiritual alertness and readiness. It emphasizes staying aware of Gods
end-times "clock" - His timeline of events that lead up to the return
of Christ. This awareness focuses on faith, repentance, and living in
accordance with God's will. The term emphasizes a personal, spiritual awareness
of one's relationship with God and the need to avoid spiritual complacency,
especially as the day of His return draws nearer.
In contrast, the term "woke," as used in modern
vernacular, carries a different connotation. It speaks to an awareness of
social injustices issues such as racism, inequality, and class privilege. Being
"woke" in this sense is about seeing and addressing societal
inequities, advocating for change, and working toward justice. Wokeness focuses
on the temporal struggles of humanity, often through the lens of activism and
group action. Wokeness is a secular concept grounded in sociologynot
theologyand focuses on collective rather than individual moral accountability.
As followers of Christ, we must be careful not to allow the
world's philosophy of "wokeness" to distract us from Christ's call to
"awakeness." While both ideas encourage awareness, the focus of that
awareness is dramatically different. Jesus calls His followers to a spiritual
alertness that directs them toward divine truth, transformation, and an eternal
perspective. Staying awake in Christ means living with eyes wide open to His
love, grace, and His movement in our world--prioritizing His Word above
shifting cultural ideologies. Being aware of and addressing social issues can
be important, but staying spiritually alert keeps believers grounded in
something far deeper--Gods unwavering truth and His invitation to live
faithfully.
Jesus inseparably links this wakefulness to prayer. He says,
Pray that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to
take place. The things He refers to are the catastrophic events and
tribulations described earlier in Luke 21, particularly in the context of the
coming judgment and the end times. His point? Prayer is our lifeline, keeping
us connected to the Father, strengthening us in times of trial, and nurturing a
heart of humble awareness. The "secret sauce" of Biblical awakeness
is prayer. Through prayer, we stay spiritually alert watchful, prepared, and
anchored in hope.
May the Lord grant you eyes that perceive His truth and a heart that discerns His will. And may you remain steadfast in faith, vigilant in spirit, and ever ready for His glorious return which is looming on the horizon, closer than ever before.
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