Watch Out!

“Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day our Lord is coming…” is a typical Advent scripture lesson; it is a warning given in the 24th chapter of Matthew’s gospel.  The whole of that chapter is a fascinating read and it is a downright shame that we so often focus on one little verse (often out of context) out of  the many.  What do we do, for example, with the following verses?  “If they tell you, ‘He is there in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or if they say, ‘He is there in the inner room,’ do not believe it.”  (Matt. 24:26-27).  Don’t fall for such announcements, it seems to say, they may be “fake news.”  Don’t believe what someone else tells you.  You keep an eye out for God’s coming, you think and watch for yourself, don’t depend on others to tell you, for they don’t know, and you don’t know, just when, where, or how God may decide to breakthrough.  Watch out!

What a frightening experience it must be to walk in one’s sleep?  Our son experienced sleepwalking one night when he was a little guy.  We found him in his bedroom closet trying to find his way somewhere.  My sister had a problem with sleepwalking, too. She somehow managed (at a very young age and in her sleep) to carry her rocking chair out to the front porch.   There my parents found her in the middle of the night, contentedly rocking in her chair, but sound asleep.  When she awoke she had no idea why she was on the front porch or how she had managed to get her rocking chair out there.  That is frightening—but how much more frightening to be a sleepwalker in life, unconscious of what is happening around you and within you.  How disturbing not to know why you are where you are or how you got there.  Watch out!

Stay awake, watch out, and pay attention to what is going on.  In the midst of life, in all its great needs and happenings, in the issues of war and peace, disease and hunger, human greed and corruption, God is always breaking through.  If you aren’t watching out for it, you’ll miss it.  If you miss those breakthroughs, you’ll miss the whole reason for the season.  Watch out!

Redeemer, come, with us abide;

our hearts to thee we open wide;

let us thy inner presence feel;

thy grace and love in us reveal.

Open the doors.  Watch for Breakthroughs!