"Wake Up, O Sleeper" - by Jim Tharp, 2008

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth; and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: 'WAKE UP, O SLEEPER, RISE FROM THE DEAD, AND CHRIST WILL SHINE ON YOU.'" (Eph. 5:8-14)

Whether v. 14 is a quote from an ancient baptismal hymn or a line from an Easter celebration, its command to the "sleeper" to "rise from the dead so that Christ may shine on him" places the order solidly within the context of revival. The general call in the passage above is to holiness. Christians are to come out of darkness and walk in light. The light of Christ will shine on them so that the worldly who walk in darkness, as well as weakened believers who have slipped back into the shades of the world, may be exposed and wake up and repent and become a part of the community of light.

Waking Christians from their slumber is a task beyond human ability.