42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
In our verses for today the Lord Jesus demands a constant vigilance of being watchful and prepared for the decisive day of His appearing. We are to be carefully watchful regarding our times as none of us knows the day or hour when He will return or the day or hour which will be our last. The wording translated “keep watch” is from the Greek word “Gregoreuo” meaning “a mindfulness of threatening dangers which, with conscious earnestness and an alert mind, keeps one from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct.” Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids. Indeed, these are the same Words Jesus gave to His inner circle – Peter, James and John – in the Garden of Gethsemane – followed by a warning of the spirit being willing yet the flesh being oh so weak (can anybody else besides me relate to this??). To be sure, this is our hour to keep watch:
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matt 26:39-41 (NIV)
“Oh that I may be roused out of my slumber, and be watchful and ready against the coming of my Bridegroom...Even the wise virgins fell asleep. Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame: thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. Watch, therefore, over this unsteady heart of mine, O Thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it begins to wander from Thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a serpent. Give me grace to look upon every hour as my last; so that being ever wisely upon my guard I may meet Thee with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please Thee to call me hence.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
We need only to examine Peter’s heart breaking over his actions after the rooster crowed to see the effects of his drowsiness, his lack of alertness to the hour – if he had only kept watch the story would have perhaps had a happier ending for him. It behooves the child of the King to be prepared. The Lord Jesus’ followers are to be ready for He will return unexpectedly – as a thief in the night. Luke’s writing on this passage encourages us further:
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40 (NIV)
“He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.” John Tillotson
The Apostle Paul gives us warning regarding our watchfulness as well, charging us to wake up from our slumber. This is our time for spiritual vigilance and industriousness and there is a great need for alertness. A sinful state is compared to sleep – senseless and inactive while a gracious way is compared to watching and waking. We are to behave in keeping with our enlightened condition ever prepared for the Lord’s coming. This is logical for us to behave in such a way (as it is for our good) and it is also our duty (as it is commanded). Interestingly, God never commands anything of us that is not for our ultimate good:
The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12 (NIV)
3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thess 5:3-6 (NIV)
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well, with my soul. O, Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, even so it is well with my soul. It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.” Horatio G. Spafford