And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. Acts 20:9
For a number of reasons, medical or otherwise, some people have a tendency of nodding off during a meeting. These people can relate to Eutychus, although they have never experienced the tumble that he did during the meeting in Troas. When we think about the conditions that existed during that meeting, we can easily expect that Eutychus was not the only person to fall asleep. For one thing, it was the evening, in fact, late evening because Paul was into a lengthy sermon. It was quite likely past Eutychus’ bedtime. For another, the room would have been stuffy and hot from so many people present. The window seat that he occupied would have been comfortable, more so than other locations within the room. What could have been done to have prevented his slumber? And what can be done these days to avoid spiritual slumber among the Lord’s people?
The conditions that led to the mishap with Eutychus were for the most part unavoidable at the time, although he should not have been seated in the window. But many Christians today are drowsy spiritually because of conditions that can be addressed. Just as Eugychus was overcome because of the late hour, so many of today’s Christians relegate their spiritual life to the leftover times of the day when they aren’t involved in the business and pleasures of life. Bible study and prayer receive short shrift, so they are not alert. Most of our meetings are scheduled so they don’t drag into the night as Paul’s message in Troas did, but some Christians still find the meetings too long. Because they have not prepared, they are not involved, and so they pay little attention to the ministry or to the Gospel, or to the Bible reading comments. They are as easily distracted by outside things as Eutychus would have been in his seat in the window. And, like Eutychus, these people are subject to dangers that don’t affect alert Christians.
Apart from Paul’s intervention, Eutychus’ tumble would have been tragic. Spiritually drowsy saints today also face the probability of a spiritual tumble and spiritual disaster. Christians who don’t take a keen interest in the Scriptures, in Gospel outreach, in the Assembly meetings, and in the welfare of other Christians are prime targets for the devil’s attacks. They are more likely to find fault with the preachers or with other Christians, more likely to be enticed away by denominations that major on excitement and entertainment but lack spiritual depth, more likely to become involved in activities and organizations that take them away from the company of other Christians. And there won’t be an apostle Paul to revive them when they fall.
Let us make sure that we and the other Christians around us are spiritually alert, and not in danger of a deadly tumble. -Jim MacIntosh