“…let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:6

“Be sober-minded; be watchful.” – 1 Peter 5:8

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:13

A CHURCH ELDER once said that “Victory over sin is won by dealing with it there and then when it first enters the mind, not necessarily later on where it has had chance to take root in our hearts.” As much wisdom and truth are contained in those words, we need to go beyond that to what conditions our hearts, making us susceptible to sin’s influence. It is not so much the sin we fall into that overcomes us but a gradual hardening of the heart, a desensitizing of our spirits, a dullness of mind that lowers our guard, that we really need to be watchful for.

The Christian’s overall perspective in this world is to set one’s hope fully on the coming grace and glory of God, as Peter stated, when Christ is to be revealed in all His splendour. Apart from the cross of Christ, everything in our Christian walk rests on that pillar of truth; it’s what governs our mission work at home (our own land) and abroad, or rather the fulfilling of Christ’s Great Commission. The loss of focus – be it by distractions or laxity – is one of the largest disturbers of spiritual sanity that soon dissipates into spiritual stupor.

As Christians it is imperative to be always aware that the world in which we live is not a haven or playground but a constant battle-ground. We must, at all times, be prepared to wrestle against the supernatural powers of evil. The saints of old often spoke of not resting until they reached heaven’s shores; in these darker days, what makes us assume we can just ‘chill-out’ on our way to glory?

The apostle Paul exhorted believers to be full of the Holy Spirit as opposed to staggering under the influence of wine. The issue is the dulling of one’s senses and alcohol – not being wrong in and of itself – when used to excess, seriously impairs alertness. Nonetheless, there are many other aspects that blunt the Christian’s tenacity and sensitivity and one of the most common causes is the subtle influence of the world; its distractions – indeed, a love for it. Becoming comfortable and feeling at home in this present age is one of the sure signs that sin already is having sway by altering our perception and the very atmosphere of our hearts. A spiritual numbness and hardness sets in where the sinfulness of sin is veiled from our eyes.

To go on or continue being filled with the Holy Spirit will garrison our hearts from subsiding into such conditions. It is not to be sombre-minded but sober-minded; taking away the letter ‘m’ cancels morbidity. The undeniable fact is that we do live in a morbid world, but one of the primary evidences of a Spirit-filled Christian is joy that differs significantly from the world’s shallow version; the world’s joy (happiness) depends on circumstances whereas the Christian’s joy results from their eternal status and position in Christ in the heavenly places, no matter how bleak things are on earth. The Christian encounters Christ’s peace in the midst of turbulence, something this world can never imitate or give, no matter how much it foolishly strives for world peace.

The Holy Spirit brings life, vigour and alertness – not a heightened psychedelic experience that leads to distortion – and we are no more real than when under His leading. This is what the apostles drive home at – “…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” – which is the only way to be sober in mind, where we are enabled to discern and stand against the schemes of the devil. It is the only way whereby we shall overcome sin from the onset.

In addition to that, the author to the Hebrews in chapter 3:13 spoke on the utmost importance of fellowship, the kind of fellowship that is other than just socializing. Genuine fellowship in the Holy Spirit builds up the body of Christ: “…exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

It is what keeps us steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the ways and work of the Lord.