While Men Slept

“ But let us , who are of the day , be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for an helmet , the hope of salvation” . I Thessalonians 5 : 8

Sleep is the state of periodic restful unconsciousness which is an essential part of the daily life of all living creatures ; engaged in at least once a day ,which involves shutting of the eyes to the world signalling a total unawareness of the world around us.
Sleep,or slumber is desirable and beneficial as a natural period of inertia ; especially at night as a pleasurable reward after the day’s activities.
Sweet sleep is a gift , a promise from God to His beloved . Proverbs 3: 24-26.

It is during sleep that Mankind’s total dependence on his Creator is most evident.
While sleeping , even the greatest men and women are reduced to a state of helplessness , like day-old babies.
Some people smile or grind their teeth while sleeping.
Others talk in their sleep and even sleep-walk!
Many snore loudly with their mouths wide open ; while some people even forget to cover their nudity ; all in a state of blissful surrender to the power of sleep!
Infact,during sleep, Man's complete vulnerability and powerlessness is one of Life’s reminders to Mankind that God is in charge; that Life does goes on and that God’s Universe keeps working like clockwork and ; without any man’s efforts.

Like all good gifts from God , sleep must be managed carefully with wisdom.
For it is during the sweet repose of sleep , ordained by God, that all men are most vulnerable , powerless and open to attacks from the Enemy.
In warfare , enemies know that the best time to strike targets is during unguarded moments at night, when their victims are enjoying deep , sweet slumber.
Men , even the strongest do go through moments of physical and spiritual “lows” and they “ sleep on duty ”.
What to do ?
Men could sleep ; but Heaven help those who sleep without committing their lives and properties to the Guard and Shield who neither sleeps nor slumbers !
Psalm 121:4 .
God knows that the Enemy would strike during the period of our unguarded moments of physical or spiritual slumber.
He is our Shield and our Buckler and watches over us, day and night.Psalm 91: 3-11.
“ When the enemy shall come in like a flood , the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him ” . Isaiah 59 : 19.
The Merciful God will deliver His people from every evil harvest prepared by Satan.

“Another parable put he forth unto them saying , The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept , his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat , and wept his way ” . Matthew 13 : 24 , 25.
In this parable and its interpretation in Matthew 13 , the Lord Jesus stated clearly the evil work of Satan and his agents in this world ; and their ultimate destruction by God’s consuming fire.
He made it plain that the deception by Satan makes people believe that "TARES" are the real thing .Satan's conterfeits are cunning, sugar-coated imitations of God's promises and blessings.
Millions today are deceived and have accepted "Tares" as evidence of prosperity, blessing , civilisation ,knowledge, affluence, peace and progress!

Whenever and wherever “tares” gain access and entrench themselves, they become very difficult to uproot.
Living a life based on an open- door policy to all and sundry is akin to the foolishness of sleeping on duty in the battle front!
Foolishness is any decision taken to maintain a closed – door policy to God and the Word of God ; this is like sleeping with the doors wide open in a lion – infested wilderness!
Careless disregard for the laws of God give access to tares who are Satanic agents .
When people or nations have been in deep slumber ; leaving their doors wide open and then they wake up to realise the Enemy has penetrated their space and now there is havoc and chaos every where ; it becomes difficult to undo the damages by human efforts !
It is an effort in futility to start rushing to shut the barn doors when the horses have bolted from the barns !
The adage “ Prevention is better than Cure” is appropriate to drive home the point that the best option is to avoid all forms of foolishness and “sleep” which would allow “tares” to enter , germinate and to take root!

The evil harvest of tares which Satan has in store for the unwary is the evil harvest of chaos , terror , losses , cuts upon cuts , unemployment , poverty , shame , regret and great sorrow .
Satan knows this and he derives great pleasure in mocking his victims as they struggle to undo the damages and crisis which they have allowed Satan to plant in their lives!
When the time of the evil harvest of Satanic tares comes upon people , it not the time to resort to panic measures and even to apply more foolish methods of damage control.
It is NOT the time to depend on "self-help" or to depend on all sorts of “experts' advice ” .
It is the time to wake up , turn to and cry unto Jesus Christ , the Prince of Peace.
There is Hope for the hopeless ; deliverance for every one who would turn to Him.
“ Wherefore he saith , Awake thou that sleepeth and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light !” Ephesians 5 :14 .

Just as the Enemy is waiting to laugh at his prey as they reap the harvest of tares which he has sown ; so also God has prepared a way of escape for those who would accept it!
God has prepared a well-deserved destruction for Satan and his children.
Thanks be to God for His inescapable Judgement by fire for every tare of the Enemy .
Jesus Christ is The Solution and He is greater than the Destroyer.
He is the Restorer of the Breach , who is ever –merciful and faithful , ready to forgive , to heal and to restore lives , nations and every where Satan and his agents have penetrated with their destructive agenda.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal , to kill , and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep “.
John 10 : 10, 11.