Watch!

Dear Brethren,

For many years we have been admonished to “watch!”  Some people watch Germany to see what they are developing into.  Many watch world-news and events in the hopes of discerning the times and the seasons (Matthew 16:3).  Some watch the Vatican, and others watch the Kremlin or Beijing to see how things are shaping up.  A few watch for the arrival of the king of the north and the king of the south as a signal of the end-time.  What are we supposed to be watching for?

Jesus said, “Take heed to yourselves, [watch out and pay attention] lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, [living high on the hog] and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day [of the Son of man in a cloud with power and great glory] come upon you unawares."  (Luke 21:27, 34)

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”  (Luke 21:36)  "Watch," in this verse means to be wide awake and not to go to sleep.  In context, it means to be vigilant in spiritual things.  This verse is not instructing us to pray, “O Lord let me be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.”  Jesus is informing us that we are to be watching and praying.  Not only watching, but watching and praying, because these are spiritual things that are necessary for us to be worthy to escape all the things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Certainly, we are to watch for the indicators of the very last generation – such as, Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, etc., because those are signs that will show that the Kingdom of God is near at hand.  But, merely watching world events is not sufficient for salvation.  Let's not fall into that trap.  Jesus is saying that we must be vigilantly living our Christian faith – watching and praying.

Most of us came into God's truth during the "golden age" of the Church.  We could see a work being done.  The gospel was being preached and published in all the world.  Israelitish nations were being warned.  We saw large numbers of baptisms.  We were able to meet each Sabbath with sizable congregations.  We established our own church culture with plenty of social events for fellowship.  We met with thousands and thousands at the Feast of Tabernacles each year.

It seemed that it was not so difficult to live our faith.  Yes, most of us had to deal with work situations, relatives and friends, who thought we were a bit crazy for joining an organization that met on Saturday and rejected their holidays – but beside that, we were surrounded by a lot of like-minded brethren, and we could see the Church growing – or, so we thought.

We did not know it back then, but God knew there were many among us who had not put Him and His Way first.  Many were coasting, or were never really with the program.  Jesus told His disciples that there would be an end-time sorting out.  "Let both the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."  (Matthew 13:30)

Even before Mr. Armstrong died, deceitful ministers with false doctrines, and lackadaisical members began to appear.  They had been lurking beneath the surface, and in the end, the majority of the membership failed to hold fast to the true faith.  They failed their test.  And then, those who did hold fast, found more obstacles to face.  In some cases, the brethren down were let down by the organizations they looked to.  Some ministers who were once seemingly on track started preaching watered-down doctrines.  Some continue to behave in an un-Christian manner toward the brethren.  Who among us are awake, watching and discerning?

Some ministers arose and claimed a "mantle of authority" and sought a personal following.  Some ministers and members oppressed their fellow servants.  We certainly learned that we could not rely on others to hold us up spiritually, but had to make wise decisions as we worked out our own salvation.  "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  (Philippians 2:12)

Brethren, that time of testing is continuing now.  Jesus Christ is testing each one of us individually to see whether we will hold on during the tough times.  We are being admonished to endure until the end and to hold fast to our faith (Revelation 3:11). 

God needs to have hard evidence from each of us as to our faithfulness or lack thereof.  We are either faithful to Him, or faithful to this present evil world.  During this difficult time for the brethren, each of us is writing our own record that God will use when the Tribulation starts.  We all hope that we will be accounted worthy to escape the Tribulation – but the scriptures show that many of the brethren will not be practicing their Christianity as Christ requires.  "The dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church of God], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."  (Revelation 12:17)

Those brethren who will have to endure the Tribulation will eventually see that they had not followed Christ's example in laying down their lives for the brethren.  They allowed themselves to drift away from God's truth.  By their own actions and decisions, it will be clear to them that they, themselves, were at fault – they had not been watchful to fulfill their Christian duty.  God will not make an arbitrary decision to send anyone into the Tribulation – they will bring that test and trial upon themselves.
 
Brethren, never assume that our trials and tests are behind us.  In many ways, our situation today is quite similar to the latter days of the first century Ephesian era.  Many of those members left their first love and fell away thinking that Christ had "delayed His coming."  The excitement of their calling had worn off.  They, too, accepted watered-down doctrine, sought high position in the Church and mistreated their fellow servants.  The group of brethren they had been called into declined to almost nothing after it had been a functioning body that performed many baptisms, met in large groups, and saw great miracles.  Certain members went over to "strange doctrines" that were gaining in popularity.  The majority wanted to be "where the action was", and so they gravitated away from the practice of true Christianity.

God had told the Church to watch and hold fast.  In spite of seeing the apostles martyred, and some of their ministers and brethren become heretics, the members of the Ephesian Era had to hold on.  They had to persevere during a time when persecution grew stronger and stronger.

God expects diligence and perseverance from us.  We need to be watchful and hold fast.  We still have more spiritual battles to fight.  "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."  (Luke 13:24)  "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."  (2Peter 1:10)

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Sermon:

"Watch!"