Living Ready: Watchfulness

Are you awake? I know you are physically, that is why you are reading this. My question is: are you spiritually awake? I don’t wish to ask this in an insulting manner, but with the intent of reminding us of the necessity that we remain alert, vigilant, and sober-minded. I write this because historically, this has not always been the case for some of the Lord’s Church. We find this in Revelation chapters two and three: seven churches inspected, five with problems that could be labeled “spiritual slumber,” and one (Sardis) expressly commanded to wake up (Rev 3:2). Our Lord would not have us slumber but live watchful lives.

Interestingly, readiness is one of the predominant themes of Peter’s epistles — maybe a lesson learned the hard way from the apostles’ (including Peter) slumber (Lk 22:45). Peter wrote to a broad audience and urged them to maintain their watchfulness. He wrote, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet 5:8) Watchfulness, as Peter might describe it, is not a passive awareness, “well, I know.” Rather, it is a spiritual alertness to a severe reality. There is danger at hand. There is deception to beware of. There is an enemy pursuing ME.

Peter calls for sober-mindedness. The word is nepho, meaning to be free from intoxicants. It urges us to be free from the fogs of distraction, sin, and/or spiritual dullness. Peter then calls for watchfulness. The word is Gregoreo, meaning to be on the alert - the idea is like that of those in the watchtower who remain awake while others drift asleep. The point then is obvious: the Christian life is not lived on autopilot, but with both eyes open.

Peter ties watchfulness directly to eternity (1 Pet 4:7). As eternity draws near, our attention must increase. There must be clarity, focused prayers, and sharpened priorities. Our watchfulness is not a matter of paranoia - we aren’t looking for signs - it is perspective - we know of the finality of the world and the impending judgment which comes with it. We comprehend that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10), that our judgment coincides with our passing (Heb 9:27), whether natural or supernatural (return of Christ - 1 Thess 4:13-17).

Our watchfulness is rooted in hope (1 Pet 1:13). To be watchful is to live spiritually awake. To refuse the distractions of the temporary, remain undulled by the familiar, and not to be deceived by a moment of weakness.

The warning is clear: the lion still walks and hungers. The reality remains: the Lord is coming again. The need is all the more important: be watchful.