Working and Watching

I think my precious little dog, Bella, is harboring the spirit of an extra-terrestrial fugitive being sought after by inter-galactic bounty hunters. She has recently displayed fear in certain sounds like never before. Wind in the trees making rustling and whooshing sounds, and thunder. I woke up the other night with her shaking nervously right next to my face – must be rain coming, I thought. Then the smoke alarm went “BEEP” (weak battery) and she jumped. This happened several times and I had to get up to remove the battery in order to get back to sleep. What really tipped me off was the “Si-Fi” alert sound on my phone for in-coming text messages. It sounds weird, like a laser gun or something, and she runs scared every time it sounds off. I don’t know. Naw – Can’t be!

[Luke 12:35-40] “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes...” After more than 100 years brother Charles Hodge remains one of the most famous preachers in our brotherhood. He is reported to have baptized more than any other man in the late 19^th and 20^th centuries. His quips, answers and comments are still quoted in many sermons today. Near the end of his life, Brother Hodge wrote: “As I come to the end of my ministry and life, I have never been more committed to Scripture! What an awesome privilege simply to possess a Bible! Our hands must tremble in reverence as we hold our Bibles (Isaiah 66:5). Is the Bible the Word of God? This question must be answered. We must teach our children this. What good is a “talking God” without “listening ears”? The need of the world is to listen to God. The Old Testament is full of “...But they would not listen.” “...Thus saith the Lord.” “...It is written.” Start with the Bible; Stick with the Bible; Stay with the Bible! . . . . “Oh earth, earth, earth, Hear the Word of our Lord! (Jeremiah 22:29).” — Gospel Advocate, August 2007. Greatly are these words of brother Hodge needed in the brotherhood and in world today! Far too many are like the Israelites after the death of the last judge following Israel’s deliverance from Egypt: “In those days there was no king in Israel‘ everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21 :25). Doesn’t that sound like the world today? Why do we expect God to hear and answer our prayers, if we refuse to listen to Him? Jesus said, “the sheep follow Him (Good Shepherd), for they know His voice” (John 10:4). Watching is also an important spiritual exercise denoting a perpetual state of vigilance and readiness (Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2). It denotes a constant condition of soberness (2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7). The following are some whom the Lord will NOT find working and watching: * The Slothful: The slothful person spends much time in bed (Proverbs 26:14). The lazy and lukewarm are reminded to watch and repent (Revelation 3:2-3; 19). * The Sleeping: The disciples slept while Jesus suffered (Mark 14:37). Some are still sleeping while the Body of Christ suffers (Ephesians 5:14). Paul admonishes, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). * The Side-tracked: Distractions can destroy us. A distracted pilot can take hundreds to their death. A distracted driver can lose his own life and cause others to lose theirs. A diversion is the oldest trick in the world (Genesis 3). It is still being used today by criminals and the devil. Our eyes must be taken off the world and focused squarely on the Lord (1 John 2:15-17; Hebrews 12:1-2).When Jesus comes, will He find you working and watching? Are you ready for Him?