Watch And Pray
By Sarah Foulkes Moore
The words "Watch" and "Pray" are constantly on the lips of our Lord when warning of His sudden thief-like returning. All teaching, all preaching, all activity which annuls the Lord’s solemn warning to His own to take heed to themselves and watch and pray always makes for dangerous failure to be alert. This is the reason why many Christians today are walking carelessly, as though going to a picnic, when as a matter of fact, we are near the hour of Christ’s coming and judgment has already begun at His sanctuary. The rapture itself is a token of that judgment on those who are left. Hence the whole strategy of Satan is to prevent the vigilance and alertness the Lord has so solemnly counseled.
"So shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left…. Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Matt. 24:39-42).
It has been said the only difference between the one the Lord takes in translation and the one left to earth’s last judgments is the difference of watchful readiness. In His last discourses our Lord sought to rouse with exhortations to watchfulness the unwatchful disciple, the robbed goodman of the house, and the unfaithful steward (Matt. 24 and 25).
"Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:13). Christ made ever pressing the necessity of being ever ready. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord…. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching" (Luke 12:35-37).
We stand on the threshold of Christ’s returning. Every tick of the clock draws us nearer. The darkness of earth’s midnight is overspreading. The coming of the Bridegroom is near at hand. Hence His Bride is making herself ready. The spirit of the antichrist is abroad in the world. The great tribulation is casting its shadows before. Christians, look up! Be instantly ready, vigilant, watchful!
"Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand" (Rom. 13:11-12).
Some Things Alert Christians Should Do
"Stand fast" (2 Thes. 2:15). So believe the Word of God that we cannot be shaken.
"Comfort your hearts" (2 Thes. 2:17). Be concerned but not alarmed at world conditions.
"Be not weary in well doing" (2 Thes. 3:13). Be faithful in worship and in work for God. Do not let up though Christ’s coming delays. Stand strong in spite of opposition from Satan. The return of Christ is certain!
