A Clear Command
Today, the Lord’s command for us to “watch” is perhaps the most ignored of all His direct instructions to His followers. I can’t remember hearing a sermon about it, although many pastors stress the necessity of the Great Commission because the Lord commanded us to spread the Gospel to the world.
After the Lord answered the disciples’ questions regarding the signs that would mark His “coming and the end of the age” in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3ff), He gave His followers (us) three specific instructions:
- “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
- “Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
- “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
As we see the fulfillment of all that Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 rapidly approaching our world, is this not the time we especially need to “stay awake,” “be ready,” and “watch”?
How Do We Watch for Jesus’ Appearing?
Although the farmer who built the watchtower may have had good intentions, Jesus had other things in mind than sitting in a room in anticipation of His return. Let’s take a look at how watching for His return applies to our day.
Watching begins with believing what Scripture says about the end times. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked this question at the end of His parable about the persistent widow, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Why would the Lord insert this particular question at the end of a parable about the need for persistence in prayer? Just as it takes faith to persevere in bringing our requests before the Lord, does it not also take the same determination to remain hopeful of His imminent appearing as we wait year after year?
Watchfulness begins with believing what Scripture reveals about Jesus’ imminent appearing. Christians who lack such a belief often place all their hope in future aspirations for this life rather than eternity, and as a result, remain blind to how world events point to the nearness of the Rapture.
We watch by paying attention to the many signs of the rapidly approaching Tribulation. The Rapture can happen at any moment and without warning. However, because it occurs before the start of the seven-year Tribulation, we take note of the many signs pointing to the nearness of this time of God’s wrath upon the earth. We understand how the news headlines of our day align with how Scripture describes the last days.
As I write, I’m reading about the widespread civil unrest in over one hundred cities across the US. The lawlessness that’s growing exponentially in American cities at this moment aligns perfectly with what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11. The apostle described antichrist as a “man of lawlessness” and noted that the “mystery of lawlessness” was already at work in preparation for his arrival on the world scene. The current and dramatic uptick in lawlessness is but one more sign of the nearing seven-year Tribulation that heralds the soon appearing of Jesus.
Watching leads to serving the Lord. In the parable of the “faithful and wise servant,” Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Matthew 24:46). Believing what the Bible says about His return leads to activity, not passivity.
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