The planet is in a perpetual WINTER OF SIN that has produced a deep state of spiritual HIBERNATION. And early in my faith walk I had joined that group in spiritual slumber and grown very comfortable with the escape it provided. At the time, I looked at the Bible as sacred and important, but it was dead and dormant in terms of being alive in my life. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE? Non-existent.
Like hibernation in the animal world, the Bible describes sinful man as hibernating in a death-like sleep with a scarcity of food (God’s Word).
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
hi·ber·na·tion The condition or period of an animal or plant spending the winter in a dormant state.
Animals hibernate in a series of episodes interrupted by season and circumstances. The spiritual hibernation of some Christians is similarly punctuated by seasons and events like Christmas, Easter, and when “something good happens.”
What is our water-in-the-face awakening from that kind of spiritual hibernation?
Continual replenishment from GOD’S WORD to keep us from falling into spiritual slumber and to wash away sin and guilt and regret and anger and…well, you get the idea.
And if/when we do end up in the hibernation den, we need to interrupt the sleep early and run fast toward the opening illuminated by GOD’S LIGHT.
The Apostle Paul is clear on this–the Word of God is alive and never dead and dormant! It was alive in the beginning. It is alive today. And it will be alive forever (Isaiah 40:8). But only if we seek and embrace its safety will it be alive IN US.
God’s Word is not only alive; it can penetrate the issues in our life that are hidden and hard to locate. Only God’s Word through Jesus and the Holy Spirit can cut through our pain and pride like a knife carving through bone and marrow.
But not if we’re hibernating!
I ask God to implant his Word in me, so it is ACTIVE AND ALIVE. That it identifies the issues in my life that are hidden. That it awakens me from my spiritual hibernation.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you in SPIRITUAL HIBERNATION?
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” Mark 14:37
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
