Posted April 16, 2010
I've discovered that there are three other Ws that we all need to consider: Watch, weep, warn.
It's an amazing thing that at only 23 years of age, I can already tell "when I was a kid…" stories to teens and children in the technology department.
When I was a kid, a "blackberry" was just a fruit and a "bluetooth" was not something desirable … But now I have purchased a 3G smartphone and am now able to access the Internet virtually anywhere I go!
The two 3-Ws
The world is growing ever smaller as our communications and technologies increase exponentially. We are a global society so interconnected via the World Wide Web. Those three Ws are all around us and seem to be necessary for our lives.
However, all this technology can easily distract us from certain meaningful endeavors in our Christian walk. I find myself exploring the features and apps on my phone and not making enough time for other more important things. I've discovered that there are three other Ws that we all need to consider: Watch, weep, warn.
Watch
It would not be an understatement to say that this is a troubled age, and it's getting worse. We need to watch for signs of the times and stay close to God to know what's really going on. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).
The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. actually says that we cannot know exactly when Christ will return. But we can study the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18)., pray and stay close to God who does know the time of the second coming!
Weep
Weeping or mourning isn't something that we long to do. However, doesn't it grieve us that our nations increasingly reject God? Cause and effect: When you (or a whole country) break the rules, negative consequences occur.
God wants us to look at things as He does. He wants us to sigh and cry for the abominations that our countrymen are committing (Ezekiel 9:4). Sometimes we need to be sad for others.
Warn
Throughout the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed true believers to "warn" people about what will happen as a result of rejecting God's way. Thus, His disciples in the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. actively and zealously spread the good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . of the Kingdom of God.
However, few people like to hear a warning or to be told they're wrong. One can "warn" others without condemning or holding up signs foretelling imminent destruction. How we act, what we say (in person, on a blog or on Facebook), what we pray about and how thoughtfully we support or promote efforts to proclaim God's truth are important.
We can't "save" people just by warning them—God has to be involved in opening minds to His truth—but we can share the truth.
We can explain God's way and the wonderful future in His Kingdom. Those who believe what Jesus taught can help warn others in conversations about the world's need to change its ways to God's way to prevent some very sad consequences.
3-Ws duty
In our challenging times it's good to know that many before us lived with a zeal to act on the 3-Ws. Yet it's all too easy to forget the importance of these duties. The next time you're surfing the World Wide Web, take a few moments to consider the other 3-Ws: Watch, weep and warn.
To learn more about how the 3-Ws can be part of your life, read "The Few, the Called, the Chosen." VT
