2008-03-04 01:01:00
"Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead" (Acts 20:9).
For some time the clock on the back wall of our church has not been working. As I recall the last time I preached I commented on it (using it to the preacher’s advantage.) The trustees have been working on the matter, having replaced the first broken clock, but apparently a second clock has not kept time either. Yesterday my friend, Ken, called me about a clock they were considering purchasing online. Ken is an enthusiastic, diligent young man who is a joy to be around. He was concerned about online security and was calling me for advice.
He was excited about the clock they had in mind. "It's an atomic clock" he told me. When I hear atomic I think nuclear and I semi teased him, "Ken, do you think it's wise to have a nuclear powered clock in our church?" Our area was personally impacted nearly 30 years ago by the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident and people around here can be sensitive about these matters.
He laughed and informed me that by atomic it somehow got the time from a satellite and was accurate to one millionth of a second. I’m just hoping that doesn't cause too much stress for our pastor!
Many churches have clocks, although I've attended a few who for "theological" reasons do not allow them in the sanctuary. As a pastor for many years, I grew accustomed to seeing people discreetly glance at the clock on the back wall as the worship service was nearing an end. I have never seen a clock on the front wall behind the preacher. Hmmm, I wonder why!
Acts 20 has an interesting story. The apostle Paul was traveling and stopped by Troas, where he stayed for seven days. On the last day he was with them they gathered to break bread and Paul spoke to the people. He kept talking till midnight in an upstairs room with many lamps when a most unusual event took place.
"Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on." I can imagine that lengthy service. I've sat through a few of those, myself, and I am usually pretty tired by midnight. Lamps of their time surely would not have provided the type of light conducive to wakefulness. And Eutychus sat in an upstairs window; surely a recipe for disaster as "Paul talked on and on."
Sermons have gotten shorter during my lifetime and certainly have throughout Bible and church history. Most people don't want more than half an hour now in much of the western church and the pastor sure better have some bells and whistles to keep the people’s attention, like PowerPoint and video supplements. But people still fall asleep in church!
"When he (Eutychus) was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead." Now I've experienced some interesting disruptions in church services. I recall, as a boy, someone dropping the offering plate off the balcony with a loud clanging of change spilling out in all directions on the tile floor (thankfully it didn't hit anybody below.) A common disruption in our churches today are the cell phones that don’t get turned off. It’s one thing for parishioners to forget to turn off the ringer; quite another annoyance when they feel obligated to take the call right in their pew, which actually happened one time when I was preaching. Well, I’m getting off subject and the clock on my computer is ticking away (accurate timing and all) so let me get back on subject.
If the internet were available in the New Testament period this would have been a top of the news story, hitting every public and cable network and major newspaper. Reporters surely would have been on the scene with their interpretation of the situation. See below for a link to the entire Scripture text and "the rest of the story!"
The full meaning of the story perhaps only God knows, but clearly this is an account of human weakness and divine intervention. The next time you get sleepy in church perhaps Eutychus’ story will come to mind and it will prompt you to sit a little taller and lean forward as you listen more intently to what God has to say through His appointed messenger.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for godly messengers who faithfully feed Your children by diligently teaching the whole counsel of Your Holy Word. Some attend church with an intense spiritual hunger, while others may come out of a sense of duty or to be seen by others. Give us a hungry heart that yearns for more of You so that our lives are set apart to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all that we do. May we be attentive to Your life-transforming truths as You impart them to our hearts in our personal devotions and through Your anointed messengers. Amen.
Tags: attention span,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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