F.E. Marsh :: 474. Watchfulness

MATTHEW 24:42-51

THERE are many things against which we should watch. We should watch ourselves, lest any evil arise and hurt our life (1 Thess. 5:6). We should watch against the enemy of our souls, who prowls about like an evil beast in search of prey (1 Peter 5:8). We should watch against the allurements of the world, which will fascinate the soul like the boa-constrictor does the bird, when it is held by the gaze of the serpent; and we should watch for Christ, as the watcher guards the city, for Christ may come at any time, and it becomes us to be ready.

1. We should watch for Christ, because of the Person who commands us to do so. “Your Lord” (Matt. 24:42). One of the forgotten truths of today, is the Lordship of Christ. His Lordship reminds us of His right to us, for we are His by purchase (1 Corinthians 6:20), and purpose (Ephesians 1:4). Christ as our Lord tells us of His claim upon us, for since we are His we have no right to ourselves; therefore, His will should be our delight (Psalm 40:8), His word our law (Psalm 119:44), and His way our pattern (1 Peter 2:21). Further, Christ as Lord speaks of our being His bond servants, i.e., slaves. Paul ever gloried in being the “servant (slave) of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1). The negro Christian expressed the truth when in prayer he asked the Lord to keep him, in the following words: “O Lord, if You do not look after Your property, it will go wrong.”
2. We should watch for Christ, because we do not know when He may come (Matt. 24:44). The coming of Christ is a subject that has been brought into ill-repute because of unholy speculation. When Christ may come we dare not say, but that He is coming, He Himself has said. Dare we question His word on the one hand, or speculate about it on the other?
3. We should watch for Christ, for it will make us morally and holily ready for Him. The hope of Christ’s return is purifying in its effect, as we read in 1 John 3:2-3. “Ready for either,” is the inscription upon the seal of one of our Missionary Societies, which seal has also upon it an ox, standing between a plough and an altar; this at once suggests that the ox is ready for service or sacrifice. Thus all who are Christ’s should be ready to do His will, whether that will means suffering or serving.
   Of those who go into the marriage supper of the Lamb, readiness is the result of their righteous acts (Revelation 19:8, R. V.).
4. Watching for Christ is an indication of our faithfulness to Him (Matt. 24:45). Faithfulness is only another word for obedience. King Saul lost his kingdom, through his unfaithfulness in not obeying the voice of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:23); while Paul the Apostle has a “crown of righteousness,” because he kept the faith and ran in the race faithfully (2 Timothy 4:7-8). The wise and faithful servant is one who gives to the household their meat in due season (verse 45). Those who act according to God’s heart (Jeremiah 3:15), ever seek to give, by life and lips, the Bread of Life to hungry souls.
5. Watching for Christ will bring blessing now and reward hereafter (Matt. 24:46-47). Blessing is the gift of grace (Eph. 1:3), but reward is the outcome of service (2 Cor. 5:10).
6. Watching for Christ will preserve us from evil, and beget faithfulness to Him in every particular (Matt. 24:48-51).