I think Jesus really said it best: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: THE NIGHT COMETH, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)
Paul adds: “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
And when “night” gets here … obviously the sun is already setting in America … we as the Church will need “watchmen” to keep guard. Our enemies lurk at night!
Thus we arrive at my Scripture this morning, a twice asked question in Isaiah 21:11 … “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
Somebody needs to start warning us … cautioning us … preparing us … for the encroaching night!
We Christians may literally live the truth of Philippians 1:29 some day … “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE.”
We need some modern day Ezekiels, to whom God can charge .. “Son of man, I have made thee a WATCHMAN unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17)
Yet it is also true … “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” … but still, someone needs to sound the alarm, to blow the trumpet! (Psalm 11:3)
When the “hard times” do come … when night settles in … we will probably pray more. Love each other more, study the Word more! Love the world (which is the culprit) far less. Be more humble.
About all you can do during the night is … ENDURE, stay faithful to the Lord, and remember … every night is followed by dawn!
God has promised … “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
So I say … every true watchmen not only warns during the night … but also announces the rising of the sun!
And in that sense the hymnwriter had it correct … “Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come!”
I must close the Lesson with the words of Habakkuk the Prophet. Listen to his resolve … “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: YET I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
That’s faith … with night approaching!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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