I want to be honest with my replies. I just can’t imagine not needing to rest and relax for part of the day.
I’m old enough to remember the introduction of Mars Bars to Ireland. The slogan was:
A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play.
Work Rest and Play was also the title of a Madness EP from 1980 – which featured Night Boat to Cairo. So, the slogan sticks in my mind 😀.
It’s true that people can be lazy and focus on resting and playing rather than working.
But we mustn’t forget that we need rest and play. These make us more effective for our work.
So, if it were still possible to sleep, I’d sleep. And if I couldn’t sleep, I’d relax, probably listening to audiobooks or podcasts.
I just wonder what life would be like if we didn’t need sleep. Would we be working for 20 hours a day? And probably getting the same salary 😀. I see sleep as a gift from God.
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Sleep is also used as a metaphor for dying in Christ. Just as a sleeping person wakes again, a person who dies will wake again. It’s not much of a comfort to wake and face judgement. But if you have already crossed over from death to life, waking is a joy. Think of the dying thief on the cross next to Jesus, and how Jesus responded when he repented and trusted in Jesus.
Luke 23:40-43
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
So, death is like sleeping. From the point of view of the bereaved, it seems like a long sleep. But think of the dying thief. His life ends here only to begin again in paradise, probably within moments. And when Jesus returns, everyone will he bodily raised.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
Hibernia Gospel 