Dear Christian friends:

Abel Maretela worked in a diamond mine in Kimberly, South Africa. He watched the conveyor belt which brought the ore from the separator. One day he noticed a rock the same size as a hen's egg coming on the belt. Quickly he grabbed it before it went into the crusher. It was a 616 carat diamond, the tenth largest in the world. Abel's quick action saved that precious diamond from destruction. The boss praised Abel and the company gave him $15,000 because he was alert and quick acting. Perhaps we think we can do the same as Abel Maretela, be alert and quick acting. We perhaps think that we would not let a diamond go past us to destruction. Although we want to think about ourselves, it is true that we are sleeping often, the same as Jesus' disciples in the Garden. Pete, James, and John were sleeping and resting. They did not watch with Jesus. They let a wonderful opportunity escape.

The hour of opportunity the once in a lifetime opportunity to be of support and comfort to their Lord in His suffering, had passed away. Years later, I am sure, when these disciples remembered this night they very much regretted their failure to watch with Jesus in his suffering. Jesus had asked them, but they failed Jesus. True, Jesus forgave them. He went on to the cross to suffer and pay for this failure too. But, nevertheless, they failed Jesus that night, and He asked them with love, "Are you still resting and sleeping?"

Tonight you and I have come here to watch Jesus in His suffering and to pray. That is fine! We did not miss this opportunity tonight. Thank God! But some of our members are not here. Some perhaps without good reason. Some of our members are missing this opportunity this evening. But we who are gathered here tonight should not be proud or think ourselves better than those who are not here. We perhaps have other missed opportunities. We perhaps have not failed to come to church; we perhaps have not failed to bring our money offerings to church, but perhaps we have other failures, other missed opportunities. Some "diamonds" have gone past us and have been wasted! Some once in a life time opportunities have come to us and we were sleeping. Many times our Savior Jesus has stood near our side and with love in His voice has asked, "Are you sleeping and resting?"

We Christians who have experienced Jesus' wonderful love must not be like Gene Tipps. Who is Gene Tipps? He was in an auto accident on May 21, 1967 and was in a coma for three weeks. When he awoke, he remembered nothing about his accident or his past life. Then he fell asleep and slept for eight years. While he was sleeping the war in Vietnam ended, and his former girl friends married other men and had children. When he awoke he said, "Last thing I remember is that we were all kids and single. I know I'm 28 now, but I think I'm still 20."

Asleep for 8 years! Amazing! Same as Rip Van Winkle. But perhaps we are the same spiritually. Month follows month, year follows year, ten years follow ten years and our soul is sleeping! During that time we never evaluate our money offerings to Jesus. We fail to evaluate our management of His gifts, how we use our time, talents and possessions. We continue letting our non Christian family person or friend visit us without saying one word to them about their need for Jesus Christ. We sleep on, same, same weak response to His love. We cannot awaken to do anything really important for the Lord. With sadness and love, Jesus stands near us also and asks, "Are you sleeping and resting?"

The opportunities of the past which we have missed because of our sleeping are gone. We can't call them back here. But perhaps God will show mercy to us and give us other new opportunities to serve Him in the future. Let us stay awake and alert and grab those opportunities. Let us stay awake and tell family members and friends about Jesus' love and salvation.

Let us stay awake and use our time, talents and money to support preaching here at [----------] and throughout the District and in the far countries of the world through our Synod's missions. The unbelievers of the world need to hear about Jesus before He comes again to judge!

Jesus has broken us free from Satan! He asks us: "Are you sleeping and resting?" He wants us to know His love: Look at Me, see My hands and feet! Believe that I love you. Nothing can stop My loving you! I loved you so much that I left heaven to come to this sinful earth! I loved you so much that I accepted your sin guilt and punishment. I loved you so much that I accepted crucifixion for you! I loved you so much I accepted that all men, also My friends forsook Me even God My Father forsook Me! "I love you more than you can know or appreciate!"

Let us respond to Jesus' love! Let us not sleep and rest! Let us stay awake and alert! Jesus' love can help us.

Amen.