Watch, Man

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. -- Revelation 16:15 (KJV)

The ESV says “the one who stays awake and keeps his garments on”, that is, the one who had the watch.  One of my favorite characters in literature is Allan Quatermain who is called by the natives, Macumazahn, "Watcher-by-Night".  Though Quatermain is an extraordinary shot, his truly defining characteristic is this alertness and willingness to peer into the darkness, to delve into the mysterious and the unknown, to guard and defend.  Jesus said that night is coming, when no one can work, and we take that, rightly I think, to mean that there are works appointed for us to do in our life and at specific times when we have light and opportunity.  Someday, the night will close in, our time will be gone, and we will sleep, from the perspective of this world. 

But it also speaks of the watching each of us must do in order for us to transition from the darkness of the natural life to the light of Christ, our Day.  During our night of mere human understanding – illumined only by meager, sputtering watch fires of our own devising, we are beset by many threats and dangers.  There is much lurking in the darkness that would take advantage of the lax, the drowsy, and the distracted.  Our watchfulness thwarts the attacks that would be launched. 

Not only must we be on the alert against the darkness and those things that would break through and carry us away, we must also be awake, watching and ready to welcome Christ when He comes to us.  He is the Light of the world -- the Light of our world.  We stand at the portal to open the door and admit the rightful Lord of this house.  This is the essence of salvation, when the Light dwells within us, illuminating, enlightening, and exercising dominion over our lives, chasing the darkness as the morning subdues the night.   

Once the light of Christ illumines our souls, our burden is eased and shared as now the Lord assumes the role of guarding and protecting that which is His.  Now we are watched over by One who never slumbers or sleeps, whose sight can pierce the deepest darkness, mist and cloud and shadow.  Our own watchfulness remains essential.  Our vigils do not cease but become, more and more, joyous times of communion with our Lord.  When we fall asleep, we know we will awake to the new and eternal Day, in the presence of our Watcher-by-Night.