Waiting, and watching.

In Dr Luke's account of the Gospel, he records these words of the Lord Jesus: "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them." (Lk.12:37, NKJV). The Greek word "grēgoreuō" (gray-gor-you-o), translated here as "watching", may also be translated as "alert", or "awake". However, The Lord Jesus, in those words already quoted, gives a special commendation to those who not only wait for His return, but also earnestly watch for Him.

Dr Donald Barnhouse, an American Presbyterian minister in the early years of the last century, illustrated the difference between these terms with a story of a Scottish fishing boat that was returning home after many days at sea. As the vessel neared the shore, the crew gazed eagerly towards the dock, where a group of their loved ones had gathered. The skipper looked through his binoculars, and identified some of them. "I see Bill's Mary; and there is Tom's Margaret; and David's Anne." One man became concerned because his wife was not there!. When the catch had been unloaded, and the necessary work on the boat had been completed, he left it with a heavy heart and hurried up the hill to the cottage where he lived. As he opened the door, his wife ran to meet him. "I've been waiting for you!", she said. His soft reply held a gentle rebuke - "Yes, but the other men's wives were watching for them!" 

It is possible to wait for the Lord without exhibiting much watchfulness. Our minds may have many verses from the written Word of God, the Bible, all neatly arranged, that tell of His return. We may even be able to quote them quite glibly. But what a difference it makes when our hearts are eagerly looking for His imminent return - which is much closer now than when Dr Barnhouse told his little story!

We "...must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” (II Peter 3:3-4).

The hours may seem to pass slowly but, when viewed from the perspective of eternity, which is not "endless time", but "timelessness", but where, in terms of earthly time, "... one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (II Peter 3:8), the Lord's promise: "Surely I am coming soon." (Rev.22:20), becomes clear! Given this proper understanding of His apparent delay - although there are many signs that His taking up of His faithful people to meet Him "in the air" (I Thess. 4:17) .very close! - His words of cheer should keep us on our spiritual tiptoes.

Does the hope of His soon return cause you to wait patiently and watch expectantly - and listen for "...the archangel’s call, and ... the sound of the shofar of God." (I Thess. 4:16)?