Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 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— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Mark 13:33-37
What does it mean when Jesus says to ‘stay awake’? Be alert — about what? Be aware — of what? Watch … what? And what does it mean to be ‘asleep’? Could Jesus be meaning these terms in a spiritual or mental sense? Is this something we need to be vigilant about? How vigilant? How would one remain spiritually awake and watching? Just going to the latest Church service? Or is Jesus meaning more than traditions and religion?
Of course one can search our the numerous Biblical commentaries for their ‘wisdom’. Research can give you context and historical understanding which would be good in driving your own questions that you should ask of the Holy Spirit for your own personal life .. where you might be lacking in this area.
Here is one such commentary from ‘Gill’s Exposition of the entire Bible’ on the passage above.
“And what I say unto you,…. The four disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew; who came privately to him, and put to him the questions, which occasioned this long discourse; I say unto all. The Syriac and Persic versions read, “you all”; meaning all the rest of his apostles, and all his disciples and followers in Jerusalem, and in all Judea; who were all concerned in these things, and whom it became to watch, and be upon their guard, and cast off all sloth and negligence; since they knew not soon the son of man would come, and all these evil things would be brought upon the Jewish nation, city, and temple: and the same exhortation is suitable to saints in all ages, times, and places, on account of the various snares, temptations, and evils, that they are liable to, the suddenness of death, and the uncertainty of the second coming of Christ.”
Can you feel an urgency now? Do you ‘know’ something is different in our country? Do you sense an ‘event’ coming that will drastically change our lives? If you do, you certainly are NOT the only one. Now IS the time to be ‘awake’ and watch. Certainly Jesus told quite a few parables with this type of advice … to be ready. (Ten Virgins, Talents, etc.)
How would we stay awake spiritually? Actually the only way truly is to be in the close counsel of the Holy Spirit. This would mean you yourself would have to be in intimate conversation with Him… daily. Getting advice and counsel from a pastor or prophet or any other human would be ‘second hand’ information for you. YOU yourself will be judged on what HE asked you to do personally and specifically. How is your ability to hear His Voice within your mind? Can you differentiate His Voice from all of the other noise and voices in your mind? Is He teaching you how to improve your prayer life?
Time is a funny thing. It isn’t so stagnant or ordered as we think it is. Are some moments (time) more important than others? When should you invest in those moments? Do you know which moments are vital to your spiritual and eternal life throughout your week? If you knew you only had 24 hours before everything would change around you — what would you do differently? Are you walking with Him daily, and is He advising you which moments and actions and words are important? Is He telling you what and how to invest spiritually, and physically? Are you alert to His Voice and quick to follow HIs instructions? Most are not aware but asleep to this type of life. It takes discipline to be ‘awake’ and watching at ALL times. It is learned by repetition and practice. What is He asking you to be more disciplined in? Eating? Exercising? Reading? Listening? What is He having you focus on today? Putting away your procrastination and lethargy?
Be awake and watch.