Focus: Watch It!

Text: Mt.25:13

"WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Jesus told a lot of stories to bring home the point of spiritual alertness, eternal vigilance or constant watchfulness, and He says, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mk.13:47). Every believer in Christ should be eternally wakeful, discreet and discerning. No moment of spiritual slumber is allowed. Jesus declares, "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find WATCHING…"(Lk.12:37).

Our text is the final point reached by the Lord Jesus Christ in the parable of the Ten Virgins. Spiritual watchfulness is the main lesson of the parable.

The story is about ten virgins of which five are wise and the other five are foolish. A Christian is a spiritual virgin. Paul tells the Corinthian Christians, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a CHASTE VIRGIN to Christ" (2Cor.11:2). John writes, "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev.14:4). All Christians are Christ's virgins. But sadly, not all Christians are wise virgins. Some of us are foolish and we think and act foolishly.

These ten virgins in Jesus' story are friends of the bride who should know of the necessity of taking extra oil with them, just in case the bridegroom delays in coming. In fact, the time of the bridegroom's coming is not always certain. It is a requirement to carry a lamp and enough oil with you for the ceremony, and it is at the virgin's own expense, not the bride. Lighting up the darkness is regarded as a mark of honor for the bride. The bridegroom feels slighted when he comes and sees the whole place in total darkness. It shows lack of interest, excitement and expectation.

Tell me, how could a Christian be without light in a dark world? John the Baptist described himself as "the friend of the bridegroom," and Jesus in turn described him as "a burning and shining lamp" (Jh.3:29; 5:35). He was not the light, but a lamp. He constantly waited for the arrival of the bridegroom, Christ Himself.

Wisdom is discerning. Wisdom is alert, wakeful and watchful. Wisdom carries extra oil while waiting patiently for the bridegroom. God may choose fools, but He doesn't want them to keep being fools. God makes fools wise. Paul says by the Spirit, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise…" (Eph.5:15). Why have Christ in you and still be stupid? Paul exclaims, "O FOOLISH Galatians…!" Jesus says to two of His disciples, "O FOOLS, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken…" (Lk.24:25).

It is stupidity to be slow of heart to believe the word of God.

We can't afford to be fools when our God is wise. The Scripture says that our God is the only wise God (Rom.16:27; 1Tim.1:17; Jude 1:25). "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are stored in Christ (Col.2:3). The Scripture itself has the divine capacity of making us wise (2Tim.3:15). The wise God cannot have fools as His children. Let us be wise. Let us be watchful. Let us burn and shine for the Lord in this dark world. God is saying to us, Be watchful. Here are Scriptures to meditate on:

"Be WATCHFUL, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Rev.3:2).

"Continue in prayer, and WATCH in the same with thanksgiving" (Col.4:2).

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and WATCH unto prayer" (1Pet.4:7).

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and WATCHING thereunto…" (Eph.6:18).

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they WATCH for your souls, as they that must give account…" (Heb.13:17).

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober" (1Thes.5:6).

"WATCH ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1Cor.16:13).

"Therefore WATCH, and remember…" (Act.20:31).

"Be sober, be VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Pet.5:8).

"But WATCH thou in all things" (2Tim.4:5).

"If therefore thou shalt not WATCH, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev.3:3).

Let's watch it; the days are evil, and Jesus Christ, our bridegroom, is coming.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter