They gave out Emmy awards this week. I don't know who won, because I didn't watch, nor do I have much of an interest in the television programming that the awards are for. I don't think they do Emmy's for sporting events, or for YouTube videos, which is most of what my television viewing consists of these days.

I will have to assume that Josh Nalley did not win an Emmy, despite his excellent work recently in the series CSI: Vegas. I doubt you have heard of Nalley, even if you watch the show, unless you are on the social media platform TikTok. That's because Nalley's forte in acting is playing dead.  In the south, we might say he’s “playing possum.”

Talley is actually a restaurant manager in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who posted videos of himself playing dead for 321 consecutive days on TikTok. He was basically providing his own audition tapes in hopes of getting a television or film role. Eventually he was "discovered" and given the role on CSI: Vegas. Now he is waiting to see if his acting debut will open the door for other such roles. 

So the next time you are watching something on TV and you see one of those bodies on the floor, or the medical examiner's table, it might be him. He will have no lines to memorize and deliver, but he must avoid eye movements and even shallow breathing. It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it.

It is one thing to play dead when you are actually alive. It is much worse to pretend to be alive when you are really dead. And the sad truth is, there are a lot of people sitting in churches every week that do just that. There is a façade of life on the outside, but nothing that represents spiritual life and vitality on the inside. A.W. Tozer called them "spiritual zombies." 

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John records what the Lord revealed to him, most of which we know of as apocalyptic prophecy. But in the second and third chapters Jesus essentially dictated letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor through John. Most of the letters included some kind of commendation for the things the church was doing well, and usually a charge for something that needed to be improved.

But it was His words to the church at Sardis, in Revelation 3:1-6, which help remind some of us that we need to stop play-acting, because the Lord knows what's really going on inside us. That church had a great reputation, but it was built on their past achievements and yesterday's faithfulness. Their reputation hadn't kept up with their present reality. By and large, they were just pretending like they were spiritually alive.

"I know your works," Jesus said, "You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent." (vs. 1-3)

Jesus indictment against them was that they were living on their past glory days, spiritually, but they were just playing the part now. His call was very simply to "Wake up!" 

This is a good word for us as a church collectively, and also to each of us individually. We need to regularly check our vital signs for life. Do we have a genuine love for Jesus and for each other? Do we have joy and peace no matter the circumstances? Do we have a passion for reaching the lost? 

My prayer for each of us is that we look alive because the life of Christ is flowing in us, and through us. May He be honored in our lives this week as we LIVE for Him. 

I can't wait to see you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken