Are You Watching ?
Jesus
Christ thunders to those of us living in the end time, "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 21:36). But how do you watch ? What do you watch? And why
is it important anyway ?
Nationwide surveys indicate that
some residents of the U. S. don't even know who the Vice-President is!
Millions are ignorant of who their own elected representatives are —
let alone leaders of other important nations around the world. Millions
are oblivious to major trouble spots, important capitals, and strategic
locations in the world.
You can't afford to be that uninformed!
The
Apostle Paul set an example for us when he appeared before King
Agrippa: "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer
for myself this day before thee ... especially because I know thee to
be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews..."
(Acts 26:2-3).
Paul watched what was going on around him. He knew who the government leaders were and knew something about them.
In
writing to the Thessalonians, Paul foretold our day: "For when they
shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them .
. ." (I Thes. 5:3). The only reason people say "peace and safety" is
that they aren't watching — they don't know what to look for to see
that there is no peace — that there is no safety!
Paul continued, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" (verse 4).
You don't need to be caught by surprise as all the prophesied end-time events occur — if you are watching!
Don't
be deceived by what appears on the surface. That's exactly what those
saying "peace and safety" are looking at — the surface.
Look beyond the pretty facade to the real problems in your nation and in the world.
Look
at the overall concepts of the human way of life. See the greed and
selfishness evident the world over and ask yourself, "Where will it all
end if things continue unchanged?"
Certainly, the grass is still
green in most places. The birds still migrate. The supermarket shelves
are still lined with food. The paycheck for most keeps coming every
week. Governments continue to set up new commissions and appropriate
more money to solve problems.
But all this is on the surface — it can be changed virtually overnight!
Realize
that the Black Forest of Germany was just as green in the summer of
1939 as any other summer. The day of the stock market "crash" in 1929
dawned just as beautifully as any other day. The few who looked behind
the normal veneer of those times could see deep trouble. Most did not.
Watch the economic trends of the world!
Whose
balance of payments deficit is increasing ? Which nations are pulling
ahead industrially and economically? Who is asking whom not to demand
gold to redeem currency ? Whose people are working overtime without pay
to produce more, and whose are complaining and "bellyaching," striking
for more pay, fewer hours, and better benefits — and less production ?
Which
nations are intimidating others
economically ? And how long can a nation throw its weight around
economically before it begins to do so politically — and militarily ?
Watch
the Middle East — know what's happening there. It is a crucial area in
international power politics. Know the leaders of the nations involved.
Watch what they are saying and doing!
Be aware of what's
happening to the United States and Great Britain — in comparison to
ancient Rome and every other government that collapsed because of
internal decay.
What is happening to our moral fiber? How is the
crime rate doing — the venereal disease rate? Are we solving our
problems or only going deeper into the rut? Are we removing the cause
or merely treating the effect ?
Are cities solving their
financial problems? How? By heavier taxes? By turning to the state and
federal governments? What happens when the federal government needs
help?
Watch world affairs.
And read the book! Study Bible prophecy!
You don't need to be saying "peace and safety" when sudden destruction comes!
You don't need to be in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Read and know God's Word. Know what God said would happen in our day.
Then
watch what's going on around you. Listen to people. Read the newspapers
and magazines, listen to radio and TV newscasts. Continue to read
Tomorrow's World and watch prophecy being fulfilled!
Watch! And pray! — that you may be accounted worthy to escape!
R. A. Wiedenhaft Tomorrow's World June 1971
