But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Mark 13:32-37
There is a story of a tortoise in a hare. Who goes on to race? As we all know, the hare was much faster and more gifted in this speed area. Therefore, the hare ran the race without any thought, and the tortoise thought to himself, “How ridiculous is this for me to try?” Due to the hare’s giftedness in speed, the hare decided to lie down and nap until the tortoise could catch up. However, the tortoise continue to run its race “steadily.” After a long time, the tortoise would pass where the hare was sleeping, and by the time the hare awoke, the tortoise was next to the goal. Due to the hare’s arrogance and slothfulness, the tortoise won the race.
The lesson remains the same for the believer and even more for the leader. What got you to where you are is not going to keep you in that postion. Jesus warns in the passage above, “STAY AWAKE. STAY AWAKE.” Lest, on the day of His return, he catches us sleeping. For many of us, including myself, maybe even sleepwalking, meaning waking up each day and doing many things out of a routine. Christ warns us to “stay awake, stay on guard,” and not get too comfortable with our time, talents, and treasures.
Just yesterday, I learned and was torn by the downfall of a spiritual leader, which I have come to admire. His race was almost finished. He was almost to the end, and then he fell asleep. All over the internet, he was exposed for having an inappropriate relationship. Like the story of the tortoise and the hare, our giftedness can make us lazy and cause us to fall asleep in our arrogance. However, consistent people will finish the race and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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