The Watchman’s Call
Each year we must decide what’s important. What is non-negotiable in the coming year? Wisdom is having God’s point of view, not mine. May our prayer be, not my will but thine be done. God has entrusted us with the most important thing in the world…the good news of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
In Ezekiel 33, Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Israel had strayed from God’s precepts and commandments. The choice is either truth or consequences. Israel was suffering the consequences of their unbelief. The imperative is always the integrity of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to Ezekiel 33, God’s prophet had been a faithful and obedient man of God. A prophet speaks on behalf of God to God’s people. The word of the lord came unto Ezekiel: “AGAIN the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:”
God often needs to bring the sword of the spirt which is the word of Truth. A sword will separate truth from error. God said when I bring a sword upon the land, the people should choose a man as their watchman. These people knew what it meant to live in a walled city. According to verses 3 and 4: “If when he (the watchman) seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.”
The job of the watchman on the wall is to sound the alarm so that God’s people will be prepared when the “big one” hits. Then when the people don’t give heed to the watchman’s warning, their blood will be on their own heads. Many men say upon their death beds after hearing the gospel, “it’s too late.”
The sword of the spirit is a sword of love to separate the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. The sword divides asunder believing faith from unbelief.
Verses 5 and 6 continue: Had the citizens taken heed of the watchman’s warning, then they would have been prepared for the onslaught of the enemy.
“He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
The watchman on the wall has been called to warn the citizens of the approaching danger. Those born again of God’s spirit have been given the ministry of reconciliation and have been committed the word of reconciliation. Our charge is to sound the alarm and to preach the gospel message of deliverance from sin, death, and God’s righteous judgement for sin. Jesus said, the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father. The greater works is the Gospel of salvation… God’s good news of salvation by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone.
The word “turn” is used eight times in Ezekiel 33. To turn means to “repent.” Repent is to change your mind and to change direction. It means to forsake the broad way that leads to destruction and turn unto the narrow way through the narrow gate, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus Christ was the propitiation, the full payment and the never ending sacrifice for our sin. For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Therefore, preach the gospel of salvation through the perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Speak forth the Word boldly and in love. Then let the chips fall where they may. As Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” The Word of God never returns void. In Isaiah 55, God said though his prophet, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it will prosper in the purpose for which I sent it.”
Paul said, “we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Unto the Jews the preaching of the cross of Christ was a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto those who have been called, the cross of Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation.
The credibility is in the Word of God to those whom God has called. We have been given God’s great co-mission. For we are fellow-laborers with God. He calls us not to argue but to be kind to all, gently correcting those who oppose themselves. 2 Timothy 2:24 says, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
There is a difference between regret and repentance. It’s one thing to feel disgust and pain for our sin and iniquity. However, repentance means to change direction. Repentance is the inflection point where we agree with God’s will about Jesus Christ the Saviour from sin. Repentance is to change direction from following our own will to following his will. Repentance unto salvation is by confessing “Jesus is Lord” and believing in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead. Turning from our sin and unto the truth of the Word of God through the Lord Jesus Christ is the meaning of repentance.
As watchmen on the wall, our commission and our mission is to spread the alarm: the good news of God’s gospel message of salvation. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.
It’s not about us…it’s about him. Jesus Christ is the “hound of heaven” who pursues those whom God has called to his saving grace. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. May our prayer be that he will lead us to some soul today and teach us Lord just what to say, as fellow Laborers to God’s harvest….that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of God’s grace through the power of his holy spirit of Christ in us the hope of glory.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael