“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”—Romans 13:11.

God doesn’t want us to spiritually sleepwalk through life. He wants us to be alert to the dangers around us. The Lord desires his people to be fully aware of the spiritual warfare that we all are engaged in.

Many Christians are referring to the current coronavirus pandemic as a “wakeup call” from God. Most of us, I think, agree that God is trying to get our attention. Sometimes it takes drastic measures to wake human beings from their spiritual slumber. Throughout Scripture, the Lord has used various methods of getting people’s attention, including plagues.

Now that God has our attention, what might he want us to do? As you might have guessed, I have a few suggestions.

First, maybe God wants you to repent. Twice in Luke 13:1-5, Jesus gives this admonition—“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Repentance is a prerequisite for salvation. No one can be saved unless they turn away from their sins. Be honest with yourself. Is there some sin that has become so ingrained in your life that it is causing separation between you and God? If so, you need to repent.

Perhaps God wants you to wake up and re-examine your priorities. Have you gotten so busy with this and that and the other that you are not even close to putting God first in your life? Remember what Jesus says—“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33).

Maybe the Lord wants you to get more serious about worshiping him. That’s what he wants most of all from you. In John 4:23, Jesus says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Are you faithfully attending the worship services at your local church on the Lord’s Day? Do you give God the attention he deserves (for that is what worship really is, giving your attention to God) every day of the week?

Our current crisis might be a wakeup call to get serious about evangelism. Is there somebody you have been meaning to talk with about their salvation? Don’t put it off any longer! As Colossians 4:5 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”

Perhaps you can think of some other way that God wants you to wake up and get serious about your faith, now that he has our attention!