Just Taking a Nap
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. – John 5:24 NKJV.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life. – John 5:24 AMP.
Along a highway in eastern Pennsylvania drivers were horrified to see a man’s body. The body was seen by several drivers on Highway 33 about 75 miles north of Philadelphia. When highway patrol troopers responded they found a man laying near an exit against a guardrail. Troopers woke up the man who said he was just “Taking a nap” and the man then left the area. (Lehighvalleyonline.com 09.21.2015 – just discovered this free access newspaper)
Jesus makes it clear in John 5:24 that if you know Jesus as your Savior that you have eternal life. We are told this through the apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In other words, if you know Jesus as your Savior you are alive! It seems strange, but talking with some Christians, some believers, they seem more dead than alive. Maybe, they are just taking a nap?
In our lives there are definitely times when we “feel” more alive than at other times. These times when we “feel” more alive may occur during major events such as a wedding, birth of a child, graduation from high school or college, beginning a career, vacations, illness, accidents and other events. Spiritually, there may also be times when we “feel” more alive than at other times. Sometimes our “brook” dries up as it did for the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17). In baseball, a dry spell is described as being a “slump.” Maybe you are in a “slump,” a dry spiritual period? It happens to the best, it even happened to Elijah.
What do you do when your joy is not overflowing? What do you do when everything feels wrong and you’re not sure why? What do you do when you are in a spiritually dry time? Jesus says in John 15:9-11, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” It is God’s will for you to be alive, to be filled with joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).” When we are dry spiritually we must continue to “abide” in Jesus meaning we need to return to the well of “living water (John 4:10).”
When we are going through dry times spiritually this is a time to draw nearer to God (James 4:7-8) and not a time to withdraw from Him. These are times when we need more of the “living water” and we cannot receive that from the things of this world. We must immerse ourselves in the things of God, spending more time in prayer and in His Word. Abide in Him, and the dry times will end, and you will be filled with His joy. Believe it! Live it!