Sabbath Thought - Watch

As we approach God's fall Holy Days it can be easy to get excited about the wonderful fulfillment these days' picture.  However, we know from the prophecies recorded for us in God's Word, that before the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, mankind is going to experience a time of trouble never before seen or experienced (Matthew 24:21).

You and I grieve for the pain and suffering already extant in the world around us.  Morally, economically, spiritually, politically, and even personally, so many people are floundering, and so the culture and nations around us are floundering as well.  It will only get worse before Christ returns and begins to undo all that Satan has promoted and established.

In watching the events of the world play out, we can see the lead-up to what will take place before the return of Jesus Christ as He explained in Matthew 24.  We are told to "watch" (Luke 21:36) as the time for Satan's rulership of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) draws to an end - but what does that mean for each of us personally?  Are we "watching" if we simply stay up on world news and can see how these singular events could come together for the bigger events prior to the return of Christ?  There is value in knowing what is going on in the world, but how does this type of watching prepare us for Christ's return?  Some think if they pay attention to these world events then they can know the timing of Christ's return - but the details of the day and hour of His return are not for us to know (Mark 13:32). 

How would this type of watching help us?  The simple answer is that it doesn't help us much, because that type of watching is passive.  We can't change or influence any news events.  We can't change any of the events that will eventually lead to what is prophesied in God's Word.  We can see these events building to the end-time events but that doesn't add anything of substance to our spiritual character. 

So what should we be doing then?  A complete reading of Luke 21:36 gives us the answer: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (NKJV).  We are to watch so that we are counted worthy to escape the awful things to come.  For us to consider whether we will be counted worthy, we need to watch ourselves.  The Greek word translated "watch" in Luke 21:36 means to "keep awake" - we are not to fall asleep like we see in the Parable of the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 - and where we are told again in verse 13 of that chapter to "watch").

Back in Luke 21:36 the Greek word translated "worthy" means to "deem entirely deserving".  We know we "deserve" God's protection and mercy when we live in His Word.  This means keeping His commandments (John 14:15).  This means reflecting the love of God in us to everyone we interact with (John 13:35).  This means we don't love the world or the things in it (1 John 2:15).   This means that we serve one another through God's love in us (Galatians 5:13).  Are we growing spiritually (2 Peter 3:18)?

As the end of Luke 21:36 says, we will stand before the Son of Man when He returns.  This refers to judgment.  But judgment as God views us is not typically how others judge us.  God is looking at the actions, deeds, words, thoughts and obedience to His way of life over our lifetime!  We know this because of what is recorded of the many faithful in the first part of Hebrews 11:39 - they "obtained a good testimony" of a life lived that was pleasing to God!  Our judgment is in the life we live in Christ now (2 Peter 4:17).

The "watching" of Luke 21:36 is a very personal watching then.  It is a watching of ourselves (not of others) to make sure we are diligent in our calling, that we are redeeming the time we have, that we are staying the course and taking on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

Are you watching?

I wish you a very wonderful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

9 September, 2022