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Are You A Watchman?
Throughout history, watchmen have warned of coming danger so others could feel secure in their homes or businesses. There are many kinds of watchmen. In the time of walled cities, watchmen were on the walls to sound the alarm when they saw invaders approaching.
We no longer need watchmen on the walls, but there is still a need for watchmen. There are still bad people who want to kill and destroy. Today we see lawless people in the streets attacking people, destroying property, and creating fear.
Our nation, like the people of Israel, needs watchmen who will warn people of the coming destruction. Like Israel, as a nation, we have defied God’s righteousness and we can learn from what happened to them.
God appointed a watchman for Israel.
Ezekiel was a priest of Israel who God called to be His spokesman to a rebellious nation he had sent into bondage for their sin. They were being punished but they still were not turning back to God.
Ezekiel 33:7 NKJV tells us the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
There were many false prophets among the people of Israel. They were telling the people that everything was going to be OK. They even said that God was going to deliver them. In fact, their words led the people to believe that God would not punish them for their continuing sin against Him or their worshiping of idols.
Today false prophets are telling us that everything is ok. We just need to let everyone do their own thing. While both men and women are preaching this satanic message there are few watchmen to stand up and proclaim the truth of God.
Is our nation OK?
Anyone can look around and see evil everywhere. Yet many of our preachers refuse to preach against the sins that sent Israel into bondage. They teach the truth about God’s love but never mention the cost of sin in people’s lives. The sin that destroys families is ignored because too many are guilty.
The false idea that once we accept Jesus as our Savior we are free to go on sinning has weakened the Church’s message. When Jesus truly comes into our lives, it is transforming. We should put away sin and never believe that we can continue as we were before meeting Jesus.
Sin always costs. Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross and He loves us, but sin still costs. Our sins cost Jesus’ life and continuing in sin will cost more than we can imagine.
We are today’s watchmen, if we Christians live the life God called us to and are doing what He commanded. Our job is to repent of our sins and call the world to repentance. We do this by proclaiming the Good News of Jesus and leading those who choose to follow Him into righteous living.
God explains Ezekiel’s responsibility to the wicked.
Ezekiel, like followers of Jesus, was a priest. Today Scripture tells us that we are a holy priesthood. Each one of us has priestly duties to those around us.
Peter says in 1 Peter 2:5 NKJV, “YOU also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
God tells Ezekiel that when He fails to tell the wicked of their sin they will surely die in it. However, if He fails to warn them, their blood will be required of him.
We will have to answer for those we did not warn of the coming destruction and the Judgement Seat of God.
Listen to what God said to Ezekiel!
18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:18-19 NKJV
First, note that if the wicked man does not turn from his wicked ways he will die in his iniquity. This is very clear and leaves no room for doubt.
Second, if you don’t warn him, he will die in his iniquity, but his blood will be required of you. We would rather ignore this part, but we can’t.
Third, if you do warn him and he does not turn from his wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. You have fulfilled your responsibility to God and man.
As God’s priest, you are bound to warn both the wicked and the righteous!
In Ezekiel 3:20-21 NKJV the Lord again speaks to Ezekiel about his responsibility to the righteous man. Is God speaking to His Holy priesthood today in these verses? Is it just as important to warn the righteous about their sins as the wicked?
20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”
God is speaking to us, His Holy priesthood, today with these same words.
Again, when a Christian man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin.
Our job is to warn the lost about the end that will come to them and tell them about the Savior. Once they have accepted Jesus we must teach them to follow Jesus in all His teachings. We must warn him to live by God’s Word.
Remember Jesus’ instructions!
In Matthew 28:19-20 it records Jesus’ instructions to His followers, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We are not to stop when we teach the lost about God’s love and salvation through Jesus. It is up to us to teach the responsibility that goes along with salvation. We must teach them to put away their sinful lifestyles.
Jesus gave us the job of watchmen or priests. Our task is to warn both those who attend church and those out in the world who have never accepted Jesus.
However, everyone is responsible for their choice to either obey God or follow Satan. There is not a third choice. If you don’t follow Jesus and make Him Lord of your life, you have chosen to follow Satan.
You can be good by all worldly standards and yet not be right with God. God offers to save us from our sins through His Son Jesus. However, He has not lowered His standards. Our God is the same God who sent His chosen people into bondage because of their sins.
When Christians refuse to follow and stand up for God’s way, we can look at the Scriptures to see what God will do. God has not changed and He makes clear what is right and what is wrong in His Holy Word.
It is up to us to decide our fate.
In Ezekiel, the Sovereign Lord makes it clear that it is up to the individual to make a choice. They can either listen to what God says or they can refuse. All of us are given a choice. We can put our faith in Jesus and follow Him in all things or we can refuse to follow Him.
In Ezekiel 3:27b NKJV it says, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
I believe that the Lord God would also say that we are a rebellious house. The church has devoted itself to teaching only the love of God. We must also instruct believers about obedience to God’s Word.
We are to love everyone, however, that is no excuse for not pointing out sin. Adultery, perverted sex, stealing, etc are still sins. As followers of Jesus, we must take a stand against evil.
To stand with Satan is to stand against God. It does not make a difference what the world or your political party says is right. God is the only one who can define what is sin for His creation.
Will you stand with Him?
You are a watchman in your day!
As God’s watchman, you should know the rules God gave through Ezekiel and understand that you are responsible for your actions.
Paul gave us a list to warn us and to warn others about.
Please read and meditate on Romans 1:28-32 NKJV.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
If we warn them and they turn from their wicked ways they will be saved.
When we warn them we will not be held accountable for their sins.
However, we are responsible when we fail to warn them.
My prayer is that we all become good watchmen. We must warn those within the Church and those lost in the world.
No one can be neutral. You are either for God or against God. If you side with those who are teaching or promoting evil you have chosen to stand against God.