Reflections of a Young Pilgrim

Prepare. That was one of the last words of my Dad before he passed away, a word he would repeat several times throughout the day. Looking back, I see the relevance and importance of that message to us, as it’s a lesson stressed to us by Jesus several times.

Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.

Matthew 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Here, Jesus tells us to watch for His return. What does that mean? Well what does the watchman of a city or household do?

A good watchman is always expecting something to happen and is prepared for it; and he warns those he’s been entrusted to about what he sees coming up.

Thus, when Jesus tells us to watch, it means our Lord can return at any moment, so let’s be expectant and prepared.

Expectant, because what God promises will always be fulfilled, and finally meeting our Lord and King in-person is a joyous time to look forward to.

Prepared, because the Father is returning for His children, and only those who sought a relationship with Him and through Jesus accepted His adoption beforehand will be blessed; to all others, to those who did not ready themselves and were as strangers, the terrible words of “I never knew you”.

Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matthew 24:46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Matthew 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

Matthew 24:49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

Matthew 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,

Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This section of verses is very straightforward. Those who waited for Him will be blessed and honored by Him in amazing ways. Those who weren’t always watching for Him, for they were neither expectant nor prepared, will not be permitted to live with the Lord.

They weren’t expectant, because they grew so engrossed with the immediate senses that they stopped looking at higher matters and forgot what’s important (i.e., the inevitable return of the Lord, their assignment from Him, and the joys that came with serving Him).

They weren’t prepared, because they were distracted and didn’t really expect His return, and so made mistakes and dirtied their own lives, completely unready for their Lord’s return and the consequences that would follow.

Why exactly am I bringing all this up? Because there are two groups of people like this; and they are in danger according to the Bible!!! And as His watchmen, we’ve been assigned to be ready ourselves and to warn the others so they can be prepared too. Who are these two groups that need warning?

The ones who say…
“…There is no God…” (Psalm 14:1)

…and the ones who say, as we just read…
“…My lord delayeth his coming…” (Matthew 24:48)

“There is no God” - Whether it’s ignorance, willful choice, or putting it off because we’re too busy with “real life”, this group hasn’t chosen to follow God. Usually when we think of the church’s mission, we think about ministering to the huge amount of people in this group.

But the next one is what really bothers me…

Those who once served God, they know He is there and He will be coming back, and think words like “My lord delayeth his coming”. A fallen brother. A backslider. Now we’ve all fallen at one point or another, and even a near-pure heart will occasionally make mistakes (see the story of King David). But just as He brings us back and builds us up again, so God asks us to watch out for these brothers and minister to them too, that He may use us to plant seeds (His Word) in them.

The Bible talks about ministry like this even in the Old Testament. After all, one of God’s most famous backslid children was: Israel!

See the remainder of this article in The Good Watchman - Part 2 >>>