December 27 Wake Up!

Luke 10:10-12 “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”
 
“WIPE off the dust!” For a Jew who traveled to a foreign territory, a custom was to shake the dust off his feet or shoes before stepping back into Judea’s border. This was to say, “I’m removing all possible influence of the ungodly country before I return to God’s people.”
   Jesus uses this custom to continue his purposeful instruction to the 72 Kingdom missionaries. They are not to waste time with people who oppose the gospel power. Instead, they are to remove any negative influence such people might have on their ministry. The Kingdom travelers must cleanse any anti-God talk or actions from their minds. With evangelism on their hearts, they are to move on to tell those who will listen. It does no good to linger with people who refuse to hear the Lord’s good word. The Lord, who is the Judge, will deal with the unbelievers in his time. He will change their hearts to draw them into his Kingdom, or he will judge their unbelief.   
   In his urgency, also, Jesus warns the judgment will be dramatic and severe, even worse than God’s judgment on Sodom (Genesis 13). This was a dramatic, “Wake up!” call to the Jews. In Israel’s history of Abraham and his nephew Lot, Sodom’s sins were considered to be the worst of any people. Sodom’s citizens lived in their pagan worship and sinful lusts. In their deep sin, they laughed at Lot. God judged them into destruction.
   In contrast, those listening to Jesus that day knew God, his law and the history of his judgments over Israel. The Jews also had centuries of opportunities to listen to the prophets. Then the Lord himself declared his truth, judgment and salvation to them. Many, though, would refuse to listen. Because they had heard and said, “No.” to the Lord, God’s judgment would be worse on his own people than on the pagan Sodom.
   Has he does so often, this is God’s loving, urgent plea to say, “Wake up!” The apostle Paul would later admonish the church in Ephesus to be alert to the gospel’s truth: Ephesians 5:14 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.” Then be reminded of the angels’ warning Lot: Genesis 19:15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” Jesus’ judgment words again indicate God’s urgent message throughout time. “Wake up! Believe. Repent. Be saved!”
   The message must be spoken. Dust the sins from your soul with God’s living Word and Jesus’ atoning blood. Step out of the world’s “dust” and into the pure Kingdom of God. Indeed, hell is far worse than Sodom. Surely, Heaven is far greater than we can imagine. After all, it is the place “Christ will shine on you” eternally.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray we are awake to hear your saving gospel. I pray you open the ears of those who are yet to hear. In Jesus’ name, amen.