Watching

In Matthew 24, we read of Jesus instructing his disciples not to pay attention to all the claims of the end, that not even the angels in heaven or He himself knew the time.  Concluding his warning, Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (v. 42).

Keep watch, what exactly does that mean?  Are we to spend our days gazing into the sky, looking for the clouds to part and the Lord to descend?  Are we to suspend what is referred to in the medical community as ADLs (activities of daily living)?  Are we not to concern ourselves with the things at hand as we go about watching for the Lord's return?

Although many have suggested such.  Some have cut themselves off from the rest of society in order to keep watch and be ready for the end.  Some have sold everything, dressed up in white robes and simply waited for His return. But is that what Jesus was telling his disciples to do?  Not.

We know it is not because Jesus painted a picture of how it looks: "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left" (vv. 40-41).  The righteous, along with the unrighteous will be going about their normals daily lives - even though they are to be watching.

Jesus even spells it out in terms of daily activities: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns" (vv. 45-46)

So, what is this watching?  Watching, for the Christian, is to live with a view of the Lord's return - to be serving Christ in his/her daily life by doing good, honoring God and seeing to the needs of others as we await our Lord's return.  Far from idly watching for His return, we are to be about our Master's business, ensuring everything is in readiness for his return.  Jus' Say'n.