On Being Watchful

The Day and Hour Unknown

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:32-37

What comes to mind when you hear the word watchfulness?

Everything we have in this life is on loan – our lives, time and our resources (Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 6:20). Being a renter is such a fitting illustration. While you were out, the property manager/landlord leaves a note on the door. In the note are details of the exact date when a property inspection is going to be conducted. Its intent is to check for leaky pipes, the proper function of all furnished appliances and just general maintenance. If you normally keep a clean house, it’s no problem. All you have to do is sweep the floor and do some light dusting.

But what about if you’re the type to let everything run amok? In the note, it states that regardless if you are in the property or not, the inspection will still take place and you don’t have to be there because they will enter using the maintenance key.

Let’s say the property inspector comes without warning, is your house in order?

Christian, is your house in order? If the Lord were to come back today, are there things in your life that shouldn’t be there? Nothing is secret to God and He is so merciful He gives us time to fix things. He left us His Word to take heed to life principles and warnings. I will never know what you may be going through, but like the property inspection note which gave details for preparation, let us make good use of the time God is giving us to make things right.