Dune - The Sleeper Must Awaken

In Dune Leto Atreides is talking to his son Paul about what it means to be a ruler. He told Paul the there comes a time in every mans life in which the "sleeper must awaken". It's a point where a person says, "I will cast off playing like a child and stand for what is right". A point in which you take up responsibility for your actions and move to the call that God has placed in your heart. Leto was preparing Paul for his time of rule; knowing that he would probably not be present long.

In a way, this is exactly what Christ did for us. He knew His time here was coming to a close and with His life and death; provided everything we needed. Even after His ascension He provided us with a teacher, a guide and healer; The Holy Spirit. Some of us as Christians are sleepers. We live our everyday lives much as everyone else. We do not take up the call to go and tell people the good news of Christ. We do not reach out to those unlike us in style or mind set. We do not live, we sleep like the dead comfortable in our boxes surrounded by the dirt we know.

Christ calls us to more than just our comfortable day in and day out lives. Ephesians 5:14-16 says, "... This is why it is said: "Wake up, o sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Awaken sleepers, your Father in heaven awaits your cry to Him to go for him!

Dune "Fear"

Let us paint the picture of fear.  Biologically it's something built into us to give us an understanding of our past pains.  Fears is often caused by a memory of pain, either our own or someone elses'.  Watching Frank Herberts' Dune brought all the old ideas of pain that I used to have back.  Much like the ideas in the movie about pain and fear, I also believed that it was something I could control.  That I could repeat something however many times and the fear would just vanish. My beliefs, however, never rang true.  The more I tried to control my fear the more it grew inside me.  At the time  I even tried the Bene Gesserite mantra for fear:
                                                I will not fear
                                               Fear is the mind killer
                                               I will face my fear 
                                               I will let it pass through me
                                               Where the fear has gone there shall be nothing
                                               Only I will remain.
As silly as that sounds when you live your life without Christ and His nurturing care you will try anything to keep your emotions in check.  After becoming a Christian I learned that fear will not longer have a hold on me.  1 Peter 3:14 says, "But if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are you and be not afraid of their terrors, neither be troubled."  Such an odd statement can only be followed if I understand that, "The Lord is in the midst of you, He is mighty, He will save..." (Zephaniah 3:15-17) and that He "will help me and I will not fall to my enemies." (Jeremiah 39:17-18 paraphrased).  Once I understand this concept I stand on the solid ground of Christ.  Like Muad'dib I stand boldly and declare the things that are true.  With Christ I say:
                                                 I will not fear
                                                 Fear is conquered through Christ
                                                I will give my fear to the Lord
                                                I will let Christ flow through me
                                               Where the fear has gone there shall be love
                                                Only Christ will remain.