Stay awake!

Mark 13:35 "Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

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Remember the struggle that the disciples had to stay awake when Jesus was wrestling in prayer with the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane?  Three times Jesus went to them to see if they were waiting and watching with Him, but they couldn't keep their eyes open.  The quote above closely preceded that night and exhorts all believers to be 'on alert' at all times for the day that Jesus comes to us again.  When the guards came for Jesus at Gethsemane the disciples were not prepared, even though Jesus had told them that He would be betrayed and even though He had told them they would scatter (despite their fervent denial).

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When Jesus came to them in the Garden and found them sleeping this is what He said: Mark 14:37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

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And these were the ones closest to Jesus, who had walked with Him daily through His ministry.

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As we walk with Jesus through our earthly lives, let us remember that it is more true to say that eternity is close than to say it is far.  And if we walk closely with Him, and if we can learn from the example of the disciples, let us stay awake, remembering that God controls the great clock and all of time, and all of life, and all of Creation will bow before Him.

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."