"KEEP ON THE WATCH"

MANY longtime servants of Jehovah learned the truth when they were young men and women. Like the merchant who discovered a pearl of high value and sold everything he owned in order to buy it, those eager Bible students disowned themselves and dedicated their lives to Jehovah. (Matthew13:45, 46; Mark 8:34) How do they feel about having to wait longer than they may have expected in order to see God's purposes fulfilled toward the earth? They have no regrets! They agree with Brother A.H. MacMillan, who after almost 60 years of dedicated service to God, said: "I am more determined than ever to keep on in my faith. It has made life worth living for me. It is still helping me to face the future without fear."

What about you? Regardless of your age, consider Jesus' words: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42) That simple statement contains a profound truth. We do not know on what day the Lord will come to execute judgment on this wicked system, and it is not necessary for us to know. But we need to live in such a way that when he does come, we will have no regrets. In this regard, what examples do we find in the Bible that will help us to keep on the watch? How did Jesus illustrate this need? And what evidence do we have today that proves that we are living in the last days of this ungodly world?

Next time: A Warning Example

Watchtower, 2000