The
Man Who Never Slept!
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In Trenton, New Jersey, there lived a man who contradicted all the laws of nature regarding sleep. Word spread that Al Herpin was a rare man because he never slept! Of course this drew the attention of the medical profession, so in the 1940's, scores of doctors marched to the door of Al Herpin's shanty to investigate, determined to expose the fraud and thus strengthen their own medical theories. |
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Inside the humble dwelling doctors found a rocking chair —but no bed, cot or hammock! There was nothing on which a man might lie down! For weeks upon weeks, medics stayed with Herpin in relays, waiting for him to sneak a few winks—he never did! His way of resting was to sit in his rocker and read seven newspapers, for hours, until he felt refreshed. Herpin claimed that the cause for his lifelong insomnia was due to an injury his mother received just a few days prior to his birth. |
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Finally the day came—on January 3rd, 1947, the sleepless man went into
eternity, at the age of 94. Folks in the area remarked upon Herpin's death that
he now finally
found sleep. But did he?
While the Bible speaks of death as sleep it is always in relation to the
body. The reason is, that in ordinary life, when one sleeps at night, he wakes
up and rises in the morning. So in a spiritual sense, when the body lies down in
death, there will be a day when it shall rise out of its state of
"sleep." This coming event is called "the resurrection."
Speaking unto Felix the apostle Paul said in “there
shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts
24:15). As
the old-timers used to put, "There is going to be a great getting up
morning." One day the graves will open. Those who are saved will come forth
“unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).
Those who have never received God's salvation through faith alone will be cast
into the lake of fire. However, those who have repented of their sin and trusted
Christ as their saviour will enter into heaven where there is no more night or
sleep. It
is a place of infinite bliss.
In heaven, sleep is not needed nor desired—in hell it is craved, but denied. Where will you be in eternity? Only the blood of Jesus Christ can secure eternal rest for you!
