OUR WATCHFULNESS TAKES ON GREATER URGENCY

"Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."- MATTHEW 24:42.



"ABOVE all other things, the twentieth century was shaped by war," says author Bill Emmott.  While admitting that all periods of human history have felt the weight of wars and violence, he adds:  "The twentieth century did not differ in kind, it differed in degree.  It was the first century to feature a truly world-spanning conflict . . .And, as if to emphasize the point, it featured not just one worldwide conflict, but two.

Wars that involve  'nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom' were foretold by Jesus Christ. However, they are just one aspect of 'the sign of Christ's presence and of the conclusion  of the system of things.'  In this great prophecy, Jesus also mentioned famines, pestilences, and earthquakes..  (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8; Luke 21:6, 7, 10, 11)  In many respects, such calamities have increased in scope and severity.  The badness of man is abundant, as seen in his attitude toward God and fellowman.  Moral breakdown and increase in crime and violence are evident.  Men have become lovers of money rather than lovers of God, obsessed with pleasure.  All this testifies that we are living in "critical times." -2 Timothy 3:1-5.

How do you view the worsening trend in human affairs?  Many are  indifferent , even callous, to distressing events of the day.  The world's influential and intellectual men do not discern the meaning of "the signs of the times";  neither have religious leaders given proper guidance in this matter.  (Matthew 16:1-3) But Jesus admonished his followers:  "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."  (Matthew 24:42) Jesus here encourages  us not only to be watchful but to "keep on the watch."  To keep on the watch, we must remain alert and vigilant.  This requires more than simply acknowledging that we are living in the last days, more than recognizing that times are hard.  We must have firm conviction that "the end of all things has drawn close."  (1 Peter 4:7)  Only then will our watchfulness take on a new sense of urgency.  Hence, the question that we must reflect on is:  'What will help us to strengthen our conviction that the end is near?'

Consider the conditions prevailing during the time preceding a one-of-a-kind event in human history-the great Deluge of Noah's day. People were so bad that Jehovah "felt hurt at his heart." He declared:  "I am going to wipe men whom I have created off the surface of the ground."  (Genesis 6:6, 7)  And he did just that.  Drawing a parallel between then and now, Jesus said:  "Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be." -Matthew 24:37.

It is reasonable to assume that Jehovah feels about the present world as he felt about the pre-Flood world.  Since he brought an end to the ungodly world of Noah's day, he will certainly destroy the wicked world of today.  Having a clear understanding of the parallel between that time and our day should fortify our conviction that the end of the present world is near.  What, then, are the similarities?  There are at least five.  The first is that a warning of coming destruction is given in no uncertain terms.

Next time: Warned of "Things Not Yet Beheld"

The Watchtower, 2003