2 May | Youth
«And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.» Romans 13:11
No one should sleep less than seven to nine hours a night. More than that is also not necessary and could be harmful. This time is enough for the body to regenerate and be able to face a new day of activities. A study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine with approximately 50,000 people concluded that sleeping more than ten hours a day is bad for your health and can lead to the emergence of diseases. The consequences range from psychological problems, reduced cognitive and reasoning abilities, instability in heart rate and the emergence of other problems related to sleep disorders. Elderly people who napped more than normal during the day had a higher incidence of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
When we are young, we believe that we have plenty of energy and that we can waste it. Some manage to spend the night playing video games, watching movies, or enjoying a party. At the other extreme, there are those who spend the entire day sleeping, immersed in laziness. Any exaggeration is bad. We need balance in our routines to develop healthy habits. If this applies to the physical aspects of life, what can we say about the spiritual aspects?
In Romans 13:11, Paul speaks of the dangerous habit of spiritual drowsiness. What does the enemy do with a Christian who dozes off in faith? The Bible draws attention to the time in which we are living. These are challenging times. Jesus himself once asked: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Many think they have their whole life ahead of them and that they can play and live in spiritual lethargy. They imagine that in old age they will have the opportunity to correct the mistakes of their youth. Nobody should count on that.
Maybe you have the biological conditions to live 80 years, but will the world last that long before Jesus returns? Looking from this perspective, it is always risky to leave the decision to surrender yourself into the hands of Jesus until later. It is not wise to nap in times of war. Wake up! Our redemption approaches.