The watchman described in Ezekiel 33 was given the task of watching for a physical enemy, such as an attacking army. When Jesus warned his listeners of a coming judgment (Matthew 24), He was specifically referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. In the next chapter He warned about another judgment, the final judgment.
The prophets of God were watchmen; so also were John the Baptist and the apostles of Jesus. Preachers today are watchmen, that is, if they are warning people according to God’s word.
The watchman issues a warning, and one word generally sums up the warning: “Repent!” The literal meaning of the Greek term for repent was to change one’s thinking or perception. So, repentance was the banner cry of the watchman: “Change the way you are thinking!”
For the watchman of Ezekiel 33, repentance meant changing from peacetime thinking to a mind prepared for war or invasion. The warning of Jesus in Matthew 24 was to alert the minds of the people to watch for signs of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. The warning of Jesus in Matthew 25 was to alert the minds of His followers to prepare for the final judgment of God. So, the watchword is repent; change the way you are currently thinking so that you will be prepared.
Vital elements in a warning system are alertness and soberness. By alertness, I am referring to the idea of being wide awake. By soberness, I am referring to the discernment necessary to make good judgments. An alert and sober watchman knows the difference between a fluttering leaf or passing shadow and the real enemy.
Jesus reminded the people of His day that they were able to discern the changing of the seasons by looking at the fig tree. Jesus told them that they should, in the same way, be able to observe changes in their cultural environment and identify whether or not it was time to take action.
God wants us to use our capacity for observation and thinking to discern changes in our world and prepare for appropriate action.
So, note that a number of our laws have been enacted in the past that allow behaviors that are opposed to God. Laws governing alcohol use allow for drunkenness. Free speech is the banner waved to allow for all kinds of sexual sin. In recent years laws were passed allowing gay marriage. However, all of these had one thing in common: personal liberty. Our society allows behaviors that were previously accepted as immoral. So, preachers could preach against sin and show how society’s allowances differed from God’s expectation.
Things are different now with regard to homosexuality and its associated movement. Some of our nation’s new laws not only allow behaviors previously considered immoral, but the laws also protect and promote behaviors regarded as sinful in the Bible. In addition, those who oppose the sinful behaviors are considered guilty of hate speech. It is no longer enough for a Christian to oppose and simply not engage in behavior believed to be sinful; Christians are being pressured to accept the sinful behaviors as good, or else suffer consequences.
The Jewish officials used the Law of Moses against Jesus when they brought Him to trial and crucified Him. Remarkably, they joined hands with the Romans to legally eliminate Jesus. Saul’s persecution of Christianity was legal; he had official papers.
Wake up! Our laws are being changed to give people leverage to legally attack Christians. At the same time Christians are being brainwashed to accept sin as good and to view holiness as evil.
Adjust your thinking!
This is not a call to arms,
but a call to prayer and holiness.
Open your Bible.
Be Ready!
Mark Stinnett
Mark Stinnett
July 18, 2021
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