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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:
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"Watch!"
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