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WATCH

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 30, No. 7.

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WATCH

By R. M. Kilgore

ALL are more or less acquainted with the duties of a soldier. He not only must equip himself for the war, face the enemy on the battle field, endure hunger and cold, and be deprived of home and its associations, but he is called upon to watch, a duty which calls forth as much courage as any other, and when well performed, elicits praise and honor from his commanding officers; and very often he is rewarded by promotion and placed in higher positions of trust and responsibility; but when neglected, he brings upon himself shame and punishment.
The army camps for the night, the enemy is near, and watches are required. A soldier is detailed as sentinel and stationed in front. His orders are very strict. If the enemy advances, he must give the alarm. If a straggler approaches, he is arrested, and no one is permitted to pass by him without giving the countersign. He is thus left to pass the dreary hours of the night. If he is a good soldier, he is up and active; his eyes are always open to discover anything that may come near him, and his ear is quick to catch the sound of an approaching footstep; while with his voice he fearlessly calls, “Halt! who goes there?” He realizes that the safety of the camp is in his hands, the lives of his comrades are at stake, and that his own life is in jeopardy. He is never found sleeping upon his post.
On the other hand, the soldier who is careless, negligent concerning his orders, thoughtless about his own safety or that of his comrades, lazy, and indifferent about his character and the reputation he bears, is not left alone long upon his post until he becomes stupid; he sits down and folds his arms around his gun, and perhaps is soon asleep. The enemy comes and finds him thus, and takes him captive. He is a prisoner, and perhaps death is his portion. If not, the officer when he comes to relieve him finds him asleep, seizes him, strips him of his arms and equipments, and imprisons him. He is tried by court-martial, and is sentenced to be shot for sleeping upon his post.
Such is the law of any well-organized army, and its safety depends upon its enforcement, especially during times of war.
This well illustrates the warfare which the people of God are called upon to fight, so often brought to view in God’s word. We are enlisted to fight the battles of the Lord, and the time, till Christ comes, or we are taken prisoner by the enemy of souls, either to fight for him, or enclosed within the walls of his prison-house, the grave. Christ is our captain, and the commandments of God are the regulations which govern us. The organization of this army has been long and well established. No changes have been made by general or special orders; its rules are the same, and our Commander has never been superseded. We are often called upon to endure hardships as good soldiers. We are in the land of the enemy. We are compelled to meet the foe. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are spiritual, and mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds. “Wherefore,” says the apostle Paul, “take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” The armor of God consists in having upon our loins the girdle of truth, upon our breast the breastplate of righteousness, our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” for a shield, faith; for a helmet, the hope of salvation; and for a sword, the word of God.
What a complete armor! How fully equipped is the soldier of the Lord! Who can but have faith in such a Commander who has thus provided so bountifully for those who will enlist under his banner.
What are we fighting against? Where is the enemy? With whom do we contend? In Eph. vi, 11, 12, Paul answers: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Our foe is strong. He has long been skilled in this warfare, and with what power he comes upon us in these last days; for he knows that his time is short. The battle is begun, the war raging. How necessary it is that we should keep our armor bright. Each soldier is called upon to act, to fight, and to stand guard. His Captain has gone to prepare other habitations. But he did not go without leaving orders to his subjects concerning their duty in his absence.
He promised them he would come again and receive them unto himself, that where he is, they might be also. He gave them commandment to watch for his return, to keep an eye on the prophecies, and see their fulfillment in the signs of the sun, moon and stars, the “distress of nations,” and “the sea and waves roaring.” Watch the signs of the times which tell that summer is nigh. “Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye, therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping, and what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.” Mark xiii, 33–37.
The faithful soldier will heed his instructions; he will be at his post, alive, active and vigilant; ready to hail with joy the signs of his approaching Lord, whose reward is with him. To him he gives eternal life and an immortal crown, and a promotion to a seat at his right hand to reign with him. Another, when his Lord comes, is found careless and unconcerned, deriding, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” and doubtless asleep upon his post. Others have heard the commandment, but are then found “smiting their fellow-servants,” “eating and drinking with the drunken.” They have violated the oath of their former allegiance, and are found fighting in the ranks of the enemy. They heed not the instructions of their former commander, and without doubt will be found sleeping upon their post.
They are arraigned, tried, and found guilty. The verdict is given, “Depart,” and the sentence of death rests upon them.
There are foes within we have to meet, against which we must keep watch: “The lust of the flesh,” “the pride of life,” and the love of this world. If we would escape these, we must be on the alert, awake, and vigilant. If we would be successful, we must station our strongest guard at our weakest point, for that is where the enemy will assault us. We must call loudly for a re-enforcement, for we are too weak of ourselves, if we would gain the victory. We have no time to sleep while such foes are so near us. We must be clothed upon with our armor, keep up a daily practice of prayer, that we may have strength to endure; and when the contest has ended, that we may come off victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world.” 1 John ii, 15, 16.
If we would escape the things that are coming upon the earth, we must watch. If we would avoid the snares of the enemy, and not be taken captive at his will, we must watch. Is it not high time we should awake out of sleep? “Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” 1 Thess. v, 6–10.
What great and precious promises have those faithful, waiting ones, who are obedient, and watching with longing desire for their Lord’s return. Those who have “fought the good fight,” who have “kept the faith,” and “have finished their course,” and are watchful and ready, a rich reward awaits them on the return of their Lord and Master. Though they pass through trials, afflictions, and great tribulations, these “which are but for a moment work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
When he comes, “every eye shall see him,” though they were asleep; they will awake when it is too late to watch. They will then know that their doom is sealed, and will cry to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” It is a life and death question. Solemn thought! to be found sleeping upon our post. It is wise for us that we heed the warning, be obedient and faithful, that we walk in the light, be sober and vigilant, and watch unto prayer. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke xxi, 34–36. “And what I say unto you, I say unto all, WATCH.” Mark xiii, 37.
R. M. KILGORE.
Clermont, Iowa, July 15, 1867.