There are several ways and times that people experience wake-up calls. The daily routine of early morning alarm to make us ready to go to work. The realization of some strength, skill, or ability we possess but had never taken advantage of. A behavior or lifestyle we need to discourage to prevent an unfortunate outcome or one to encourage for a delightful outcome. The observation that someone is taking advantage of us. Or a near-death experience that transforms the way we live our lives. Simply put, wake-up calls inform us that we can no longer continue to live in a certain way.
Ephesians you 5:14-17
            14 Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepiest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
 
            Paul makes a wake-up call to the believers in Ephesus. He calls them to wake-up from their sleep, to walk carefully, to redeem the time, and to understand the will of the Lord.
            First, the call to wake-up from sleep is crucial. In Ephesians 5:14 “This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” The reason why the believer must wake-up is that having been delivered from darkness (Sinful state of life), the believer still lives in a sinful world. “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:14-15). Since we live in the world, we are tempted with disobedience, pride, lustful desires, and ungodly lifestyle of the world as elaborated in Ephesians 5: 8-13. Evil is always seeking to creep up on us.
            When we sleep in our walk with God, and fail to wake up, the very things we were delivered from will overtake us and consume us. It doesn’t matter how spiritual we might think of ourselves failure to wake up out of sleep will render us helpless and unfruitful in our walk with God. Danger always looms when Children of God fail to wake up out of their slumber. The Lord Jesus admonished His disciples at a time when sleep was heavily upon them; “Watch and pray in order not to fall under temptation’s power” (Matthew 26:41). 
            Secondly, we are instructed to walk carefully not as fools but as wise. The world is like a mines field to the child of God. The believer does not have the luxury of going anywhere, sitting anywhere, doing anything, and staying in the company of anybody. “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1). All it takes is one careless step and often the damage is so deep that the loss, the shame, the offense, and the hurt is often destructive. In fact, being careful in our walk with God in
this world cannot be overemphasized. Thus, for 372 times the Bible tells us to be careful.
            Again, he said, “Walk carefully, not as fools but as wise”. Those who refuse to acknowledge God and serve Him are largely considered as fools. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (Psalm 14:1). In essence, the believer cannot conduct his/her life like people who neither know nor believe in God. If there’s ever a time that believers need to walk the world with great care, it is today. Common natural decency of morality, character, honor, and the fear of God has degenerated to deplorable levels (2Tim3:1-5).
            Thirdly, we are admonished to redeem the time because the days are evil. Make the most of every time that you have because time will not always be available to us. Our days are brief, and our frail physical bodies only makes it worse. To redeem is simply to buy back. Obviously, there are some missed opportunities in life that cannot be redeemed. On the other hand, there are some missed opportunities that are within redeemable range. Make use of every talent, gift or skill that you have to glorify God and to serve humanity. Time is the most powerful but limited resource that everyone of us possess, and it must be used wisely.
            Finally, it is our responsibility to understand the will of God for lives. It is His will that we wake up out of our sleep. Examine your life. See where you might be sleeping and dare yourself to wake up. It is the will of God that we conduct our lives with great care knowing that the god of this world is seeking the opportunity to do us harm. To understand the will of God is to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior for He is the will of God made manifest.