Paul wrote to Timothy, a servant of God, and told him to "watch thou in all things..." (2 Timothy 4:5a). To watch, means to be sober, and circumspect, understanding what is going on around you. Isaiah spoke harshly of the Lord's servants in Isaiah 56:10, stating, "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." What a sad indictment laid upon any of those who would call themselves followers of God, and yet that same charge can be laid against so many of us today, because we do not even understand what is going on around us, that we are in a spiritual battle!
Christian, do you understand the times in which you live? Do you understand that your Lord has given you a job to do, and that you need to be diligent in the performance of that job because He is soon returning and you will give an account of yourself? "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7). The Lord has taken a far journey, leaving His house, giving authority unto His servants, and to every man his work, and has commanded the porter to watch (Mark 13:34). Will He find you sleeping when He returns? "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:37). Christ Himself will gird Himself, cause you to sit down, and He will serve you, IF He finds you watching when He returns (Luke 12:37). What an awesome promise!
We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 that we know that the Lord will return as a thief in the night, but as children of light, that day will not overtake us as a thief. We are not to sleep, but "watch and be sober." Put on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation (vs.8)! We have an adversary that hates us, hates the work of God, and hates the Lord's churches. How sad it is that so many believers are more concerned with their "liberty in Christ" than they are about being sober-minded. They take more interest in throwing off the restraints of the Word of God than they do in striving to please God by living a life of daily obedience. Christ warned the church at Sardis to "be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Revelation 3:2). Do not stand ashamed before Him when He comes. Walk circumspectly, redeeming the time, for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Comments