By VOICE IN THE NIGHT
Richard Innes
“Sit up!” the voice in the night said, “and take a deep breath.”
It was a stormy night, a personal friend shared, and we were awakened by an extremely loud clap of thunder. After the initial fright, checking the kids and the house, we went back to bed and to sleep.
Then came the voice: I was certain I heard someone speaking. “Sit up and take in a deep breath,” it said.
I only half-awoke and thought I must have been dreaming, so rolled over and went back to sleep.
The voice spoke again with more insistence, “Sit up and take in a deep breath.”
This is weird, I thought so again rolled over and went back to sleep.
“SIT UP! Take in a deep breath!” the voice spoke again with great urgency.
So I sat up and took in a deep breath … and smelled smoke! I was fully awake in an instant … woke up my husband … rushed to wake up the children … we had the oldest one phone 911 (for emergency) … my husband took over the phone … the operator asked if the lights were working … my husband said they were going out one room at a time.
“GET OUT of the house immediately,” declared the operator. “Your house has been struck by lightning.”
As quick as a flash the family rushed outside only moments before the house exploded and burst into flames. It took firemen six hours to put the fire out. The house was totally destroyed, but the entire family was saved. Talk about a wake-up call!
Surely this was a God-thing. Fortunately the family members were committed followers of Jesus Christ and even though they lost their house, their lives were saved. God doesn’t usually speak to most of us in an audible voice. He doesn’t have to because his “wake-up call” is spoken to us repeatedly in his Word, the Bible.
“Wake up!” God says to every one of us, “Flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7) (God’s judgment of sin and evil for the world that has turned from God will be judged and purified by fire). Wake up, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) Wake up, “I will come again,” (John 14:3) Jesus promised “to take all who believe in me to be with me in heaven forever.”
“Wake up,” Jesus is coming again … it may be today. Are you ready? Again Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in….” (Revelation 3:20)
Whatever you do don’t miss God’s wake-up call. Have you opened the door of your life and invited Jesus, the Son of God, to come into your heart and life as your God and your Savior? If not, may I urge you to do that today … right now … by praying a simple prayer such as the following:
Suggested Prayer:
“Dear God, I hear Your wake-up call, as faint though it may be. I confess that I am a sinner and ask for Your forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins. I invite You to come into my heart and life as my God and my Savior. With Your help I repent of and turn from my sinful ways. Thank You for hearing my prayer, for forgiving me of my sins, and for coming into my heart and life as my Savior. Help me to live for You always in all ways. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
