Have any of you ever fallen asleep during one of my sermons? Have any of you ever let your mind wander during a Scripture reading? Has anyone here missed church for 4 or 5 weeks in a row for no good reason? Has anyone here decided to take their college years as a vacation from God? Has anyone hear forgotten that they were a Christian for a decade or two?

Spiritual naps are easy to take, aren't they? Some of those naps last longer than others and the devil is more than happy to accommodate you. When you spiritually doze off, Satan is always there to fluff your pillow and give you extra blanket. Jesus' words before us today shake us from our spiritual slumber and the Savior commands us, "Be alert, Christians! Know where your treasure is and be watchful at all times."

Our Scripture lesson for this morning is part of a bigger section of the gospel of Luke that has Jesus relating words of warning and encouragement for his disciples. Jesus calls his people "little flock" in the opening verse of the lesson. The words "little flock" bring to mind the picture of us as Jesus' sheep and he is our Good Shepherd.

Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. He said, "Do not be afraid, little flock." It is true that Jesus disciples as a group were small and insignificant in the eyes of the world and the culture. Today it seems that we, as Christians, are small and often insignificant in this world also. And that can be scary in a world like ours. That can be intimidating in a culture like ours. But God comforts us with his word. He says to us, "You are a flock that is dearly loved by God. You are a flock that was purchased with the blood of his Son. You are a flock that does not need to fear famine or foe. You are a flock that even less needs to fear losing God's kingdom.

For God has determined to give the kingdom to his flock. It is part of his eternal plan of salvation. And because it is part of his "eternal" plan, Jesus speaks of it as an accomplished fact. It has already been done. "For your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."

The kingdom has been given to us. It is accomplished already, but not by us. We can do nothing to gain God's kingdom ourselves. We were dead in sin, buried with guilt. You know that sin and guilt, don't you? God says to love him above all things and love your neighbor as yourself. Yet how often don't the attractions and lures of our world push God out your life? How often are people just down right mean and unloving toward one another? We were dead in sin and buried with guilt.

But God's kingdom has been given to us by his pure grace and God's love. For in his plan of salvation, he sent his only Son. Jesus lived a perfect life and we were credited with his righteousness. Jesus died on the cross and we were ransomed from the devil. Jesus rose from the dead so that forgiveness of sins and eternal life in God's kingdom could be ours. This is God's love and pure grace. He sent his Son for us. Fear not little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

But that does not mean that we, as Jesus' sheep, can let our guard down. Once saved, always saved is not taught in the Bible. You can lose your faith. So be alert, Christians! The devil tries to drag us down in spiritual slumber is by luring us away from the shepherd with earthly enticements. That is why the Savior encourages his flock to sell your possessions and give to the poor. Now the first question the sinful nature asks is how much do we have to sell and how much do we have to give. But didn't Jesus just say, "Do not be afraid, little flock." The Father and the Good Shepherd have promised to care for the flock, to care for you.

Jesus' point is that we should not be so concerned with these earthly treasures. We can sell them all and give it all to the poor with hearts full of faith and Jesus says we will be taken care of. Giving up your earthly treasures is one way to lay up treasures in heaven. The eternal crown is waiting for those whose hearts dwell on heavenly treasures.

If your hearts are on earthly goods, your plans and your actions will be directed there also. If your treasure is human power, all your plans and actions will be focused on getting that human power. If your heart's treasure is on human popularity, your plans and actions will continuously be centered on that. But if your treasure is in heaven, than your plans and actions will be on heavenly things. You will be centered on spreading the good news. You will be focused on giving your offerings to God. If your treasure is in heaven, your heart will be strengthened through God's Word.

As Christians, we need not be afraid. But we must be alert. We must know where our treasure is. It is in heaven.

Part of being alert as Christians is also being watchful at all times. We are to make sure that our eyes are fixed on heaven waiting to see our Savior return in all his glory. In talking to his disciples, Jesus gives two examples of how to be watchful.

First he told his disciples to be watchful like the servant waiting for his master. Jesus used the imagery of the Jewish marriage feast. The servants were expected to wait up for the groom and the bride to come home. The servants had to be ready no matter what time it would be, even if that was during the 2nd or 3rd watch, between 9PM and 3AM, the time when most people would be asleep. The servants would not want the master and his new bride to enter a dark house, so they would have to keep their lamps lit. They also would be ready to serve the master when he arrived. Maybe they would wash his feet or prepare a meal for the couple.

Likewise we ought to be alert, always watching for our master to return. We ought to have our lights shining, the light of the gospel radiating in our lives. We also should be ready to serve at any time. Our anxiousness for the Lord's arrival will show itself in our words and actions.

But did you notice the startling announcement that Jesus made in this section of the lesson? He told his disciples that when the master comes, it won't be the servants who serve, but it will be the master who serves. He would wait on them. This is not the way of man, but it is the way of the Lord. He came to serve and in his service, he gave his life for us.

That is the motivation the servant needs to be ready for the master. When we see his service to us, we know that it is good for us to be alert and waiting ready. There is no danger of loss in serving Jesus. We cannot lose our eternal safety or heavenly riches by serving the master and letting our lights shine. That is the Father's promise. That is the Good Shepherd's promise.

Jesus continued with another example. He was telling his disciples to be watchful at all times like the owner of the house. His encouragement for us is to never let our guard down. There are people who actually think they can take spiritual naps without any consequences. They think that they can take time off from God and just pick up where they left off later in life. There are people who do not set foot in God's house for years and figure they would come back when they got married or had kids. There are people who don't have time for God and service in his kingdom now, but plan on being a better Christian when they retire. I know this because people tell me this.

But Jesus warns that we must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. So Christians, be alert. Be watchful. Be active in God's work. If you remain active in God's work and His Word, you will never be taken unawares. Don't be foolish. Be Alert. Know that your treasure is in heaven. Be watchful at all times.

When we hear Jesus say in Revelation 22:20, "I am coming soon," let our attitude be that of the disciple who answers, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." This attitude of joyful anticipation will keep our hearts on our heavenly treasures. Amen.