The Watchman

Ah, Friday morning! How great it would be to say all is well in the world. For a watchman to say that would be just the terrible disservice the world does not need. Ezekiel received an assignment as a watchman for Israel (3:17). He had much to report that the people didn't want to hear, not that anyone would want to hear his words: on the scroll he read lamentations and mourning and woe. (2:10) However, if the watchman is given tidings of woe to report, then warning of woe he must give. Lamentations and mourning are not quite the good news that we desire. Yet, those are what Ezekiel received from the Lord. The prophet even gave the word about stuff that has not yet happened that is not comfortable for many to hear. Yes, a watchman does get those days when he can say, "All's well!" to the city. In this world of our day, those days are purty scarce. We have so many warnings each day that we learn to ignore many of them. Jesus told us that times like these would come, but He also said to not be overly troubled by the pains that must come before the end. How can we not be troubled about this?

We stand as watchers, but our news is good. There is salvation in Christ! We do not stand like Ezekiel with nothing but lamentations and mourning and woe to report. God has given us the good news of a child born in Bethlehem. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2:11) The shepherds received the good news and repeated it to the nation as they returned to the fields. Mary told Luke years later and we have the news today. Christ is born! But the good news doesn't stop there. Jesus died to save the world from sin, but rose again on the third day. Then, more good news! Jesus will return to us one day. How much good news can we stand?!

There is much lamentation and mourning and woe in the world, but we have the good news of Christ to tell. Let us take up our posts as watchmen for the world.

In Christ,
Bucky