“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Luke 22:46 NLT
The devil’s goal to trap a man is to rob(steal), kill and destroy. He never rests in his commitment to making attempts. The attempter or tempter will not fail to tempt a man when he is very active. He keeps retrying over and over again. Now when a man is less active, he will come with more forces persistently. This less activity is what we will be considering as ‘sleeping’.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
Matthew 13:25 NIV
The devil knows that during times like this, there is little to no resistance he can get from a man. Therefore, he would try as much as he can so that the man will fall. It was at such a time that David allowed the devil to put a dent on his glorious testimony. It is sufficient to say that “sleeping” is not necessarily that of physical rest. We cannot afford not to have it, though it may be in some cases.
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 11:1 NIV
Beloved, note that there are battles you must fight and there are times in your life best suited for it. Meanwhile, it is crucial to also realise the battles that requires your presence. Otherwise, you might be guilty of David’s error – sending delegates to the battle field you ought to be. How did David forget that this was a time when kings themselves go to war. He most likely has been fighting in the past, but unfortunately, he was sleeping back in Jerusalem. Although this was not a case of physical resting, but when a man is away from his primary assignment, he is sleeping.
There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP
Dear youth, there is a battle that you must fight now that you are young – The Battle for the young. In fact, you should know that there is no other battle in the life of a man greater than this. The devil knows that your time of youth is the time you are strong. In your youth, your strength, capacity, and everything else required for war are at their best. Therefore, he knows that if he can trap your life now, then he would have the best of you. If you must excel in your academics, then you cannot do that as a drop-out. Therefore, you would see that the attempter is trying all he can to ensure that your glorious future never materialises.
So, he can arrange for the man to be lured into cultism, among many other things he has arranged. The devil has succeeded in distracting so many youths into running after money. So, they abandon their education to become fraudsters. Some went as far as doing money rituals or becoming drug addicts. All of these are part of the devil’s plan. He knows that he can reduce a man’s potential if he can get him rusticated from school. Also, if he can make him graduate with a poor result or indulge in any of these negatives.
The devil, also uses the men within his reach to lure ladies. They are lured with the money from the pit of hell. They then turn themselves into an object of pleasure because of money. Many have been killed and used for rituals by the agents of darkness. Some have aborted several times, some have even damaged their wombs, while some are single mothers. The devil has succeeded in capturing many youth, and they will never have a glorious life unless they wakeup from their sleep and run to Jesus for help.
If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3 NKJV
If you allow the devil to destroy the best of your life, what will you do with the ruins? This is the reason for this battle, now that you are young. I ask you again dearly beloved “Why are you sleeping when you should be at the warfront? Why would you allow the devil to destroy your glorious future? Why?”
Arise from your slumber! Recover your life from the grip of the enemy. It is not too late to turn to Jesus. He is the one that can cause a resurrection from a lifetime of sleeping. Give your life to Jesus. Allow Him to modify and reshape your life. Do not let the devil creep up on you while you are sleeping. Sleeping can lead to you falling into temptation. Wake up!
