Watchmen

In Ezekiel 33:1-11 we read about the Word of the Lord coming to Ezekiel and calling him to be a watchman for the people of Israel. Can the Word of the Lord come to us today? Sure it can, read your Bible. So often, people are looking for special revelation from the Lord before understanding the revelation given to us in HisWord. There are many voices in the world competing for our attention, so it’s important to know God’s Word and use it as a filter to make sure that what we are listening to and following is in line with His Word.

Back in the day, there was no CNN or Satellite imagery to warn us of impending danger. Walls were built around cities and Watchmen were placed on the walls to warn people by sounding a trumpet. They would look for dust clouds in the distance, horses coming over the hills, etc. It wasn’t their job to put armor on the people or make their decision about the battle, but simply to warn them of the danger ahead.

Now, what character qualities would you want a watchman to have? Some that come to mind include: alert, paying attention, not lazy, energetic, courageous, humble, not worrying what others think about you, boldness, standing for what is right, focused, good eyesight, and honesty (not sounding false alarms). Today, if you are a Christian, this it is our job to be watchman for the people God has placed around us.

Being a watchman is a serious responsibility in God’s sight. God told them that if they fail to do their job warning people, the people’s blood will be on their head. This is a serious duty not to be avoided. Over the years, I have wrestled with my own dodging of this responsibility and not taking it half as seriously as Almighty God does.

If we see people walking through life and fail to warn them of their sin God says very specifically that he will require their blood on our head. If God takes it that seriously, we need to blow the trumpet, we need to sound the truth and give them the warning. It is their choice what to do with that truth, how to prepare for the battle ahead, but it is our job to be obedient to the Lord.

In Acts 20:30-31 we read about the Apostle Paul: Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Paul warned with tears day and night for three years! Paul knew it was his job to be obedient and to let the chips fall where they fall.

Are you warning anybody? Are you sounding the trumpet? We all walk past people every day. I ask myself, when is it finally going to matter to me to the point that I don’t care what that man thinks about me, I care what God thinks about me and I care about that soul, and I’m going to walk into their life and speak truth to them. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed once for man to die and then face the judgment. We know what’s waiting around the corner for someone who dies without the Lord Jesus Christ. We can see it in the distance. So what are we doing to warn them about it?

Friends, we need to blow the trumpet. We need to warn people. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11); none. We need to stand up and be bold. 100 years from now, we’re all dead anyways. Understand what matters. Souls matter to God. He proved it on the cross 2000 years ago. Remember, we warn people, it’s their choice what to do with the warning. But we should be dedicated to not letting a single person take their last breath without knowing and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.