Are you awake?

THE Guardian newspaper published this story on July 6, 2005: “A teenage girl was rescued after being found fast asleep on the arm of a crane 130ft above the ground, police have confirmed. A passer-by spotted the sleepwalker curled up on top of a concrete counterweight and called emergency services.

“The girl, 15, who has not been identified, apparently walked out of her home in Dulwich, south-east London, climbed up the crane and walked across a narrow beam - all in her sleep.

“Police and fire crews originally thought the girl was going to throw herself off the crane, but when a firefighter crawled out across the arm towards her, he discovered she was asleep.”

In Isaiah 52:1 God’s prophet calls to the people of God, “Awake, awake, Zion…”

Why? God answers that question in verse 3, because “… you will be redeemed”. The call to God’s people was to wake up because God did not want them to miss His rescue.

Though they may have looked awake, God knew He must rouse them from spiritual slumber to be aware of His mighty works at hand.

I think this is a wonderful part of Scripture, because it reminds us that God continues to call through His Word, “Awake!” Rescue is at hand, for us.

If we’ve accepted Jesus’ saving work on the cross and recognise Him as Saviour and King, this reminds us that it was through God’s mercy that we ever responded to Christ’s saving work on the cross.

He called us first, even when we were lost in our sin.

And if we haven’t responded to Jesus as King, God’s call to you is, “awake,” and see the rescue on offer - won and paid for at the cross of Jesus Christ.

The Revd Martin Davy, is the rector of Holy Trinity Church Theale, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Reading