Lessons.—1. Let each one consider the command addressed to himself—“Awake thou.” 2. Let all our powers be called into action. 3. In exerting ourselves let us expect the promised aid.—Theological Sketch Book.
The Gospel Call and Promise.
I. Many of mankind are in a state of deadly sleep.—In sleep the animal spirits retire to their source, the nerves are collapsed or embraced; and as the nerves are the medium of sensation and motion, the whole system is in a state of insensibility and inactivity. How exactly resembling this is your spiritual state.
1. You are insensible.—Your eyes and ears are closed; and you have no proper sense of pleasure or of pain.
2. You are in a state of security.—You have no fear of evil, no apprehension of danger, and consequently no concern for your safety.
3. You are in a state of inactivity.—You are not inquiring, labouring, wrestling. When the body is locked in slumber, thought roves at random and produces gay dreams of fancied happiness. Thus many are dreaming their lives away. (1) In this sleep many are as void of sense and motion as if they were actually dead. (2) In common sleep a person after due repose spontaneously awakes, renewed in vigour. But from this sleep, unless God should awake you, you will never awake till the heavens be no more. (3) It is a sleep unto death. Like one who has taken a large quantity of opium, unless you are awakened by some external cause, you will insensibly sink into the second death, the death which never dies.
II. God is using means to awaken them.—While you are asleep, light, however bright and clear, shines upon you in vain. Till warning has waked attention, instruction and illumination will be lost upon you. 1. God calls you to awake from your dreams of fancied happiness, and reflect upon the vanity of the objects by which you are deluded. 2. Struggle to shake off the dull slumber which weighs you down. 3. Consider your misery and danger. 4. Rouse all that is within you to activity. God calls you—(1) By the language of His law. (2) By the severe dispensations of His providence. (3) By the strivings of His Spirit. (4) By the voice of the Gospel.
III. God will give light to all who awake at His call.—It is the peculiar property of light to make manifest (ver. 13). Christ will give you light. 1. He shall make manifest to yourself your character and your situation. 2. You shall behold the light of life. 3. He shall reveal to you the God of pardoning love. 4. He shall chase the darkness of sin from your soul, and you shall walk in the light of holiness. 5. He shall put an end to your mourning.
Learn.—1. The deceitfulness and destructive character of sin. 2. How fully God provides for your salvation. 3. Hear the voice of God.—E. Hare.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 15–18.