1Pe 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
I am challenged by this Word spoken by the Apostle Peter to the Church, which is similar to the Word of Jesus to His disciples before His crucifixion. A call to the church, to be sober, to be watchful and to pray.
As I look and observe the situation in the Middle East, the death toll caused by the earth quake in New Zealand, the jobs situation in Great Britain, the global financial turmoil and many more happenings in the world, I am more convinced that now than ever before we must “be sober and watch unto prayer”.
When Jesus first spoke this Word He said as we see these happenings we should not troubled, we should not be alarmed but to stay sober. Jesus used the word “drunkenness” to describe the state that we should not be in.
The word sober as explained in the dictionary is, not to be intoxicated or drunk, to remain temperate, be serious, to be solemn, to be subdued in tone, to be free from excess, no extravagance, to be disciplined.
Drunkenness can be closely linked with partying, enjoying life and been carefree life, we are advised by Jesus to remain sober.
The word watchful is, to be vigilant or alert; closely observant. The church has therefore being called to be vigilant, to be on the lookout, to keep our eyes open and not be careless.
No one knows the time or the hour but we must come away from our stupor, from our comfort zone. I am not advocating that I know the time or the hour, neither am I saying that the end has come, I am just challenged as I see these things unfolding before our very eyes, the very Word of Lord Jesus Christ - Please read Luke 21:8-36.
Romans 13:11 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
Romans 13:13 "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."
Romans 13:14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
It is time to clothe ourselves with Christ like character, and not allow our flesh to stand in the way of our faith in the son of God who loved and gave His life for us.
