No. 04 - WATCH! By: John J. Blanchard Saturday, March 23, 2002 Brethren, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 there is heavy prophetic information for the Church and warnings for those who are alive at the end. These scriptures have been studied countless times and scrutinized for evidence to help us see the signs of Christ’s return. These scriptures hold the keys to the age-old question we would like to ask Christ. The apostles actually got to ask the question! You know what the big question is: when will the second coming be and what will be the signs? Let’s take a look at a few of these scriptures now and refamiliarize ourselves with them. Turn to Matthew 24:1 - “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” So they popped the big question and it was such an important question that it is recorded in the Bible at least three times. Let us turn to Mark 13:l - “Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?’” So we see that question once again. Now let us turn to Luke 21 and we will see that that question is recorded yet another time. Luke 21:1 - “Then He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had.’” Verse 5: “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ‘As for these things which you see, the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.’” In verse 7 again we see that question. “And they asked Him, saying ‘Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?’” So we have the good fortune of seeing this question recorded for posterity - for our benefit actually. We see that in these chapters Christ repeatedly wants to answer the question and tell them the answer but in a somewhat different way than what the apostles were hoping to hear. They thought Christ’s return would be in their lifetime. We are glad they asked the question even though it turned out to be for them something they would not live to see. We see the words recorded and we are to understand and comprehend. Those were recorded for us - those of us living at the last time. Now what Christ did have to say in these chapters in response to this question is He told them repeatedly to do something. He said, “Watch!” He did this because He loved them and wanted them to understand, but he also loved us upon whom the end of the age would come. So now I want to take a look at part of His response here in each of these verses we have just looked at; and since we are in Luke, let us look at Luke 21:34. Christ says, “‘But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’” Verse 37: “And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.” So Christ said in verse 36, “‘...watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape these things.’” In other words, something we need to pay attention to. Turn back to Mark 13 again, we will just go in reverse order in looking at what Christ had to say here to the apostles in response to their question. Mark 13:32 - “‘But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!’” Now we need to watch vigilantly. Obviously this is what Christ was saying in response to that question. Turn back to Matthew 25:6 - the famous account of the virgins. “‘And at midnight a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, saying, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.’” Just a couple more scriptures in this vein here - Matthew 24:45 - “‘Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming.” and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” So verse 50 says the master will come on a day when we are not looking for Him. In other words, a surprise. Let us drop back to verse 40 in Matthew 24. Once again Christ says, “‘Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.’” Christ answered their question but what did He keep telling them? “Watch!” Now we know the apostles did not live to see the end of the age, but these words are recorded for those who do live at the end of the age. So those words come down through time to us. “Watch!” So these admonitions were written for our time. They may have been spoken to the apostles, but they are for us to hear and comprehend. They were repeated so often that we better take them to heart. We better watch. Now other scriptures explain why. Why do we need to watch? The reason, brethren, that we need to watch is because for those of us who are alive at this time, it is hard to see. It is hard to see. Let’s take a look at some scriptures that we know are directed squarely at our age and our era and see what Christ had to tell us. Turn to Revelation 3 where Christ talks to the Laodicean era and He tells us some things for our benefit because He loves us and cares about us. Revelation 3:14 - “‘And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”’” Obviously Christ is saying at the end, the very last era, there is trouble seeing! We have a vision problem. It is characterized as blindness, as a serious case of blindness. This blindness is mentioned in many places in the Bible but we only have time to look at a few more scriptures, but it is incumbent upon us to realize that God is telling those alive at the end that we have trouble seeing. He told us in the gospels to watch. Watch so that you can be ready for My return. I am coming when you least expect it! So, therefore, it is very important to be able to see. So let’s take a look at more scriptures that talk of this blindness. Turn to Matthew 23. I want to compare some scriptures about blindness and look at a few more scriptures on this issue. Turn to Matthew 23:15. “‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.” Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, “Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.” Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?’” So there is blindness here. Christ says at the time of His first coming that blindness was in His first ecclesia - His first called out ones, the Church. We are told in the Laodicean Era there will be blindness once again at His second coming, a very similar blindness. We want to be among those who see. Let us now turn to Isaiah for some Old Testament examples. Isaiah 56:6 - “‘Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants - everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant - even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.”’” So we can see here that all nations will look to God’s house as a house of prayer, and He will gather to himself all nations, speaking of the innumerable multitude, besides those who are the firstfruits. There will eventually be an innumerable multitude. But look what God says about His firstfruits starting in verse 9. “All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” God says in the condition of the end age, as He is getting ready to call the innumerable multitude, He looks down at His people, the Church and says there is much blindness. Those who should be watching cannot see. They are blind. This is a terrible indictment for God’s Church at the end. We all should be paying attention because Christ said, “Watch!” Now turn back to Isaiah 29:9 - “Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.” So God is saying there is a blindness that He has allowed to come over God’s people, specifically, teachers. So you have a case like Matthew 23, the blind leading the blind at the end time just as it was when Christ came the first time. Continuing in verse 11: “The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this, please,’ and he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’ Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, ‘Read this, please;’ and he says, ‘I am not literate.’” We have a situation where the book that we should be able to read and understand and comprehend, God’s word - the Bible, has been in essence shut off to us because of our eyesight. We cannot see. The literate have become illiterate and the illiterate cannot be taught for there is no one to teach them. This is the state of affairs that we all live in at the end time right when God says, “Watch!” Right at the very time we are told to watch, we are stuck in this predicament where we cannot see. Now I want to make a comparison between this blindness and the spiritual vision that we should have. The blind leading the blind - in other words, no eyesight but yet thinking we see because Laodiceans are told you think you see and you do not. Christ says in the gospels, watch; yet when people watch, Christ warns you will be taken off guard for you do not see. “‘I will come as a thief in the night.’” I will come when it is difficult to see; and if you are not watching, you will not be ready! So this is something we need to obviously take to heart and ask God for that eye salve. Beg Him for help so that we can, indeed, see. Let’s look and see what Laodicea CAN see. Because there is something Laodicea sees and clearly. Christ says, you think you see and you think you know it all, yet you are blind. So there is something that we see and we take it to be what it is we should be looking at, and we could be taken by surprise because of this. We understand today the body is broken into quite a few pieces. We live in the Laodicean Era. Instead of one cohesive body with no divisions, no schisms, we know it is broken into hundreds of parts. Let’s note what is seen by these parts. Let us note what is being “watched.” I brought with me today something to share with you. It should bring this point home because we hear in the many different groups that exist in God’s Church today that each one feels in their heart that they do see what God wants them to see. They do have a message to help everybody else, including the world, and they do want desperately to point this out and help the brethren and others see clearly. We understand from the scriptures that Christ says, no, you think you see and you think you know what I want but you do not. So I want to nail down what it is we all seem to have in common - all the various groups that form the body of Christ. What do we see? I brought a sampling of literature. Without naming any names, I will show the different pieces of literature to the brethren in the audience. Some of this may be familiar to you, but without naming names or publications, I want to read some of the titles in the magazines and in the articles that are sent out as free information to the world and to the brethren. They claim to be watching and seeing what it is Christ wants us to take note of. So, here we go. The first one I hold up here I believe comes out approximately monthly. It has a section on prophecy where prophecy comes alive. It shows current news events. It talks about the earth in peril, end time prophecies, war, famine and the like. Now I have another one in my hand from another entirely different group, but yet part of the body of Christ - part of the scattered body. It also notes today’s news in prophecy and prophetic trends - tensions mount worldwide and then goes into wars, rumors of wars and the famines and disease epidemics. It points out that they will keep everyone abreast as to what is going on in the world so we will not be taken by surprise. In a third publication, by another Church of God, we have another prophecy watch with pictures of war armaments, economic trends, trends that are taking place around the world to portend disaster for the world. This group is going to help us keep an eye on this. It is a free service to subscribe to. Here is another one. A very common magazine. People find it in many places and this is a world news watch. It covers everything from another recession to racial powder kegs, record bank defaults, worldwide weather and curses upon curses coming upon the world. Of course, they will keep an eye on all of these things and keep the brethren abreast so we are not surprised by Christ’s second coming. Another publication, has a globalism watch and how there will be “running to and fro,” there will be a scattering of the brethren and prophecies fulfilled of doom and gloom but they will, of course, keep us all appraised so we are not taken by surprise by Christ’s return. The last one I would like to show talks about the prophetic blow that is about to fall upon the world and the destruction that will take place, demonstrating, of course, that they will keep us abreast so that we will not be taken by surprise by Christ’s return. That is just a sampling. I am sure if you tried to subscribe and you checked things out and you went on the Internet, you could find many more. Each one is trying hard, believing they are doing the best they can to do the work, warning the brethren, preparing them for Christ’s return, but all yet doing a very, very similar work Everybody striving yet striving with one another. Striving to do the work, yet there is arguing and fighting amongst each other. So they are split, divided and each one trying to do the work in their own way yet each work very, very similar. It is essentially the same work! Now that is what is clearly seen by the Church, brethren. The Church understands that: there are going to be wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences and dire things to happen to the earth. The only question I ask in the Laodicean Era is: is this the key thing we should be watching or is there something else? What does God say? What are we told we should in reality? What is Christ saying to watch? If this is what we see clearly, Christ says you are blind in that time! Then I think we should set that aside for a moment and beg God for help to see what it is He wants us to see! Obviously what we think we see and what we think we understand and what we think we comprehend, we are warned is not right to the point we can be taken totally by surprise by Christ’s second coming. Let us just pause for a second and think about this. If the wars are going to consume the earth and the famines, pestilences and disease destroy most of mankind and all manner of foreign objects from outer space are slamming into the earth and Christ returns after all of that, how many will be surprised? Logically speaking, how many (whoever survives all of that) would be surprised that Christ is coming? I think very few. So Christ says, “‘You do not know the hour and the time. It can take you as a thief in the night.’” This being true, I think we should look for something else! I think we should look for what Christ is trying to tell us to see, which must be spiritual! We all seem to be able to see the physical. We can all watch the news at night and read newspapers and follow news magazines and be told that dire things are about to happen, but spiritual things - that requires help from God and the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ. So let us look at Christ’s words once again. I would like to start in Matthew 24 once again. We will see what Christ said about watching. Matthew 24:3 - “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” So Christ says, hey, wait a minute! Don’t look at those physical things to understand when I am coming. You are going to have those from now (that is, when the apostles were being talked to) to the end of time! Each generation could look at the wars, the famines, the diseases and say, well, Christ’s return is imminent. We, at the end, can be watching those things and, indeed, miss Christ’s return! In the last century did we not have the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War just from the point of view of the United States? How many hundreds of other conflicts took place? So obviously Christ is telling us, if you do not want to be deceived and you really want to know when I am coming, watch something spiritual. Let us nail this point home by looking at Mark 13 once again. Mark 13:3 - “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?’ And Jesus, answering them, began to say: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and will deceive many. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.’” So obviously as helpful as the different groups are trying to be, pointing out the wars, the rumors of wars, the famines, the economic disasters, the diseases, they are not helping us see and prepare as the body of Christ. There is something deeper to look for - something that only Christ can help us to see, something requiring eye salve from Him! Eye salve put upon our eyes by Him at our request to enable us to see. You will find the same description in Luke 21:7-11. Yes, there will be wars at the end of the age, there will be disease, there will be famines but there have always been! So there is something more. What is it that God wants us to look for? What is it that we are to watch? Let’s us turn back to Matthew 24:11. Christ plainly tells us. “‘Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” Christ points to one sign for the world, and the Church alike, that we will know the end is at hand and, that is, that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all of the world. Not the gospel of the doom, not the gospel of the destruction, but the gospel of the kingdom. We do know that Mr. Armstrong fulfilled this and said so by the time he died. Not that we are to stop preaching the gospel - we should be preaching the gospel of the kingdom right up until Christ’s return. But the gospel of the kingdom is the “good news” of that coming government of God. That is what should be preached. But, unfortunately, there are things we can watch for in the Church that will help us understand the spiritual condition of the Church and this is what Christ kept hinting at. “Watch!” He said watch what happens with the fig tree. That is a symbol of the Church. Turn to Matthew 24:32 - “‘Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very doors. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.’” So we are told to look at the fig tree. What is the condition of the Church? We just read it a little earlier around verse 11 that the Church has grown cold! So Christ says now watch the condition of the Church. It will be cold, it will be callous, it will be blind. But yet the gospel of the kingdom will have gone to the world as a witness and then, My Son, Jesus Christ can come. What is He coming to? A bride, the Church and obviously the Church under those conditions is not ready. Therefore, we have had quite a lapse between the Philadelphia Era and the point we are at in the Laodicean Era where Christ, perhaps, could have come back much sooner but the Church is not ready. We are in no condition to marry the Son of God! So we need to be looking at the spiritual condition of the Church and our spiritual condition personally in order to get ready as part of the bride of Christ. I think it is far less important to look and see what is happening in the world. All of the groups, even the mainstream Christian groups, are watching world events. Every religion on earth is watching world events and we know the entire world is deceived. The Church itself has become unrecognizable to the world. They do not even know where we are anymore. If we look at what the world is looking at, we fail to see what God is telling us to watch. We fail to see ourselves, our spiritual condition and the condition of the Church, therefore, what happens? We can be taken by surprise as a thief in the night and find ourselves, when Jesus Christ returns, totally unprepared to be part of the bride of Christ! Totally unprepared to go out whether it is in the middle of the night or early in the morning to meet the bridegroom - we will not have the oil (the character) that we need to be accepted by Him as part of the bride! So this is what Christ is telling us - watch! Watch yourselves and see the condition of the Church and ask Me for help to overcome that condition. Ask Me for eye salve. Buy from Me gold refined in the fire. Buy from Me clean raiment and put it on. Then you will be ready for My Son’s return. You will be ready to marry the bridegroom. You will be assisting not in a wrong way (assisting the accusing that is going on in the world right now at Satan’s behest) but assisting Jesus Christ and God the Father in cutting time short so that more flesh can be saved. Assist in a right way for the benefit of the elect’s sake so there is something for us to rule when the government of God replaces Satan’s government. We will talk more about that in another sermon. But we can see now that we are to watch the spiritual condition of the Church and that we are to recognize and examine ourselves so that Christ can clean us up and get us ready. Fix our spiritual condition. But we, of our own volition, have to render the decision. Christ and God the Father will help us with our character flaws and they will clean us up. They will help make us ready, but only we can decide to allow Them to do so. This is why character is involved. The character of the Church and each individual in the body of Christ is very important. Now something has caused this blindness. What has caused this blindness? Let’s take a look at a few scriptures before we close. I would like to turn to II Peter 1 and we are going to look at what got us in this fix. What we should be watching for and paying attention to, to take care of, so that we can be ready as the bride of Christ. II Peter 1:5 - “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Now did you see how blindness is caused by a lack of the fruits of the Holy Spirit - basically love, kindness, endurance? This is what causes blindness! When we do not grow in these characteristics! Turn to I Peter 4:7 - “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” Did you notice that? Watch in our prayers and have love because love will cover a multitude of sins! It will get rid of the blindness! Continuing in verse 9: “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Watch in our prayers in a loving attitude and we will be able to see. So we are finding out what it is that causes blindness. Turn back to Matthew. There is more that causes blindness. Matthew 7:1 - “‘Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck out of your eye” and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.’” If we want to be able to see, we have to judge ourselves not others! Take the plank out of our own eye and not the speck out of our brethren's. Take the plank out of our group and not the speck in the other group. In other words, examine ourselves and judge ourselves and we will be able to see clearly. Spend our time judging each other and we are blind. Let us look at Luke 6 where there is a similar explanation. Luke 6:37 - “‘Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.’” If we want to be given a full measure, give fairly to others without judging. Forgive others and we will be forgiven. Continuing in verse 39: “And He spoke a parable to them: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,” when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.’” Tying blindness to judgment. The blind lead the blind when the blind judge harshly and teach others to judge harshly. So the blind cause blindness and they both fall into the ditch together. If we want to avoid blindness, develop the fruits of the spirit and judge gently. Be merciful and forgive and in such measure as we do we shall be forgiven. This is how we overcome blindness. I Thessalonians 5 talks once again of how to treat one another. I Thessalonians 5:1 speaking of the Day of the Lord. “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” So, brethren, if we want to fall for deception and that we are at peace and we will be safe while others are condemned, we can be fooled! We can actually be fooled into thinking we are safe when we are actually not seeing what we need to see! We are not reacting to God’s word the way we should. We are not developing the characteristics that would, indeed, make us safe. So it is incredibly important to see clearly what we must do. Continuing in verse 6: “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” In other words, put on the fruits of the Holy Spirit and we shall be able to see. We will know what to watch for and we can be prepared. Continuing in verse 9: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” So we need to encourage one another to see clearly, to help one another, uplift one another, not judge one another, not be harsh with each other and this will help us to see. This will help clear up our vision and we will not get to where we are looking at physical things alone in watching for the sign of Christ’s return. We will be able to see spiritual things that, indeed, will help us be ready when we hear the cry, “The bridegroom is here!” In closing, since we are right near the Passover, let us go back now and read once again I Corinthians 11 and it will put this in prospective for the time of the year we are in. It will give us meat in due season. I Corinthians 11:27 - “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” Let us discern the Lord’s body - all of its different parts and pieces. Be gentle judging others and examine ourselves and judge ourselves. How we judge ourselves will directly impact how harshly God will have to judge us. Continuing on in verse 30: “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” That is, they have died. Verse 3l: “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.” So we are admonished to judge one another easily, not harshly, but judge ourselves harshly. Examine ourselves critically under the bright light of the word of God so that we can be judged by God “ready” as having repented - as having allowed Him to clean us up. When the Passover comes, we will be ready to take that Passover; and Christ is ready to bless us, be gentle with us, and heal us as we need and those for whom we pray. So this is a serious matter - a matter of being able to see clearly, of asking God for the eye salve. Eye salve that only He can give us to enable us to have spiritual vision so we know what we are watching for. I say these things to encourage us all. I say these things not to put down anyone else. That is not our intent but it is important for us to be watching the spiritual condition of the Church. You can keep abreast of the news. There is no sin in that. But, if we do one without the other, we are doing ourselves, the body of Christ, and the plan of God a tremendous disservice. So let us keep our eyes on what we should be watching. Ask God to help us see so that we can be ready. When the bridegroom comes, He will look upon us as ready and let us dwell with Him and marry Him. We do not want to be among those who draw back or who stay blind. There is no need for any to stay blind. We must simply admit that we need God’s help. Ask Him to heal our vision problem and ask Him to help us be merciful. As we learn mercy and compassion, He will give us in the same measure. Have a good spring holy day season, and hope to see you all soon!