Wake Up Sleeping Beauty!

Photo Source: Facebook

The Great Physician has finished His exam of Sleeping Beauty as the emergency room falls silent, and awaits the long anticipated antidote for the deadly poison she has so foolishly consumed. The slumbering Bride is pale and gaunt, her breathing shallow and labored. She has become unresponsive. There’s no more time for talk—now is the time for action. Her life is slipping away and in a few moments her window of opportunity will close. 

This situation looks hopeless. Many have already given up, checked out, and thrown in the towel, feeling the outcome is inevitable—her healing impossible. Others have already written and published her obituary in the newspapers. Even the bookies in Vegas are betting against her. And…that is exactly what her demonic foe is banking on. Give in—give out—give up!

The only hope for the Church is spelled R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E. She must come to her senses and repent. No wonder drug or miracle elixir will help her. The cure is a volitional act of her will that will bring about a change of mind, action, and direction. She must utter seven simple heartfelt words, “Father, I (that’s you and me in case it has slipped our minds who the church really is) have sinned—please forgive me.” When that last pronoun “me” is formed on our lips, we will once again sense the intimate presence of our Prince and feel His tender lips brush against ours. This kiss will come only as the confession leaves Sleeping Beauty’s lips. If the kiss comes, revival will be the result.

The questions remains, what will she (you and I) do? Like the younger son of Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, the Church has wasted her inheritance on shiny baubles and cheap trinkets. She is bankrupt—wallowing with the pigs—fighting for another bite of garbage to sustain her. But unlike the younger son, she has not come to her senses and realized who she is and how far she has fallen.

Revival will not come until repentance consumes us. It will not happen corporately until brokenness overwhelms us individually.

Sleeping Beauty will not awaken until you and I do.

Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. ~Acts 3:19

Source: http://seekingthefathersheart.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/wake-up-sleeping-beauty-part-10/