Be On Guard

"And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" 

(Mark 13: 37)

There are many bible passages that exhort believers to watch, to be on the lookout. They are to be as soldiers who are "on the watch," or "on alert." They are to be "on guard" for enemies approaching the soldiers fort or camp or headquarters. So, our Lord said to his soldier servants:

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36) 

As watchmen for the Lord we are to watch for ourselves in order that we may remain safe. But, we are also duty bound to "sound the alarm" so that others may be warned and take precautions. The above verse from Ezekiel deals with the duty of watchmen to blow the trumpet of warning. Said God through the prophet:

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand." (Joel 2: 1)

As believers, or as sinners, we have many enemies. Satan is an enemy to people, especially to the Lord's people. Wrote the apostle Peter:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith..." (I Peter 5: 8-9)

A soldier who is on watch duty, or on alert, must be "vigilant" (Greek gregoreo - means to be awake). A soldier on guard duty has a duty to stay awake, yet some soldiers do shirk this responsibility. Of these the Lord complained by Isaiah the prophet.

"His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber." (Isa. 56: 10)

What good is a watchdog that cannot bark? What good is a security guard who sleeps on the job, or is blind? So many professing Christians are like this. But, how foolish is sleeping when lions are on the loose? The opposite of watching is sleeping. To watch and be on guard is to be awake, on alert, to be attentive and focused, being "circumspect." (Eph. 5: 15) It is to be keenly aware, cautious. 

But, Satan is not our only enemy. Wrote the Psalmist:

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psa. 141: 3)

Many believers fail watching out for what they say. The flesh (old sinful nature or old man) must be kept as a prisoner and we need to keep on guard against him. 

We should also be on watch for "the signs of the times" (See Matt. 16: 1-3). Wrote Paul:

"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (I Thess. 5: 4-8) 

Brethren and Sisters, let us not sleep but watch and be sober!