An awakening experience
We all are racing for something. Most of us are racing to get rich, famous like a youtuber, to find a relationship, to buy a house and the list goes on and we are all somehow racing for something. Like in every race there are going to distractions that will affect the duration like the outcome of the race. For swimmers there are 3 ways they can manage there distractions. For example, 1. they must build a plan for success (Ro8:37-39 we are more then conquerors). 2. “Be water, my friend” know that distractions come to everyone (Mt5:45 rain comes to all), and 3. Pay attention to your senses (1Pt5:8 be alert). And, these ways can be applied to almost if not all the races. Staying alert requires nowadays a lot, because we have many factors that fight against us like the food we eat, entertainment at hand, and the quest for relationships.
Acts 20:8-10
8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
The Apostle Paul was on his way to Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost. He was traveling from Macedonia to Jerusalem and after many days he and his companions landed in Philippi where they celebrated the festival of the Unleavened Bread when they remembered the day when they came out of Egypt. They went into this room which was very well lit; candles everywhere to prevent the occasion for anyone to sleep. Paul spoke from the time he arrived up till midnight and this young man found a nice window that blew fresh air in that hot evening and sat there to listen. Now, two distractions occurred that could have had damaging effects on two individuals who were engaged on their race; The Apostle Paul whose race was to finish the ministry that God had entrusted on him (Acts20:24) and the young man who set out to learn. The place where the young man sat became his distraction to the point where he fell into a deep sleep and fell out of the 3rd floor. The bible teaches us that we should not sleep like those around us (1Th5:6), it urges those that slumber to wake up (Ro13:11), because the time is at hand. Finishing the race is the only goal of the believer.
Romans 8:37-38
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 5:45
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Acts 20:24
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.