Last year I traveled to Chennai, India – 33 hours from Montgomery. I arrived on Saturday night. My purpose for going was to preach and teach. I would preach on Sunday morning at The New Life Church (which averages over 45,000 each Sunday), and then teach 1,500 pastors for three days.
I had a ten and half hour time change. I knew that waking up on Sunday morning could be a challenge, but it would be extremely important. I needed a wakeup call. I set my alarm. It went off, I heard it, I got up, and I was at church on time.
A wake up call is important. Paul writes, “Knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep.” (Romans 13:11) He warned them – he gave a clear call to WAKE UP. I believe that God’s call to America this July 2018 is to know the time – and to WAKE UP.
1. WAKE UP to our HERITAGE. The Western world was discovered by Columbus who sailed where no one had sailed before. He made it clear that he was directed, not by maps or mathematics, but by the guiding hand of God.
The current TIME Magazine Special Edition cover shows the pictures of our Founding Fathers – Washington, Jefferson and Franklin. It also lists Adams, and Madison. I finished a book last year titled, Where is America Headed? Read pages 4-9 to see how these five men stated clearly the dominant role that God, the Bible and religion played in the establishment of this nation. You can obtain it for $5 from our ministry office. Our phone number and mailing address can be found on the website: www.johnedmathison.org .
2. WAKE UP to our HEROES. We enjoy our freedoms today because of a lot of heroes. You can go out to any military cemetery and see endless rows of white crosses. Each of them represents someone who gave his/her life that we might enjoy our freedoms. Please don’t ever take that lightly.
Many of our kids are fans of heroes like Superman and Spiderman. Real heroes are not those who display courage without weakness – but rather a hero is one who displays courage despite his/her weaknesses. Heroes are people who stand at times of courage, controversy, challenge and justice.
Col. Bill Lawley was given the Congressional Medal of Honor because of his heroism in saving the lives of many aboard his B17 aircraft in 1944. He was buried with military honors. Bill Lawley told his friends, “I don’t consider myself as having won the Metal of Honor. It’s not a competition. I was just doing my duty.”
WAKE UP to the thousands of people who are “just doing my duty”. We are the recipients of that duty.
3. WAKE UP to our HOPE. It’s easy to be lulled to sleep in today’s culture by thinking our hope for the future is in military might or money or political correctness or superior intelligence or education – the list goes on and on. But we must wake up to know that our ultimate hope is in God and God alone.
David writes, “Unless the Lord guards a city, guarding it with soldiers will do no good.” (Psalm 127:1) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…the best equipped army cannot save a king – for great strength is not enough to save anyone…A war horse is a poor risk for winning victories – it is strong but it cannot save…We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us. He protects us like a shield.” (Psalm 33:12-21)
Jeremiah writes, “Lord, You alone are our hope.” (17:17) “There is hope for your future says the Lord.” (31:17)
What time is it? Time to WAKE UP!
