Watch Therefore, for Ye Know Neither the Day nor the Hour
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of being vigilant and prepared for Christ's return at any stage of life.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of vigilance in our spiritual lives, using the metaphor of a thief to illustrate the unexpectedness of Jesus' return. He likens life to a house divided into three watches: youth, maturity, and old age, reminding us that we must be prepared to meet God at any stage. Simpson shares a cautionary tale from a camping experience where neglecting to keep watch led to loss, underscoring that we should always be on guard against sin. The sermon calls for a proactive approach to spiritual readiness, as the summons to meet God can come at any moment. Ultimately, it is a reminder that vigilance is essential in our walk with Christ.
Text
Jesus illustrates the unexpectedness of His coming by the figure of a thief entering a house when the master is not there. Life, like a house when the master the old Jewish night, may be divided into three watches-youth, maturity, old age. The summons to meet God may come to us in any of these watches. A writer tells us of his experience with a camping party of which he was a member and which, he tells us, always arranged to have watches at night. "We became especially careful after what I am about to narrate happened. During the first night, from sunset to sunrise, we had in turn carefully guarded our camp.
But when the next night came, we were so impressed with the seeming safety of the neighborhood that we concluded no guard was needed until bedtime.
We spent the evening in the main tent telling stories, singing and enjoying ourselves. When the hour to retire arrived, we discovered that our other tents had been robbed and everything of value stolen. The mischief was done before we thought a guard necessary." It is never too soon to begin watching against sin.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The unexpectedness of Christ's return - Illustration of the thief in the night
- II points: - Life's stages as watches - Youth, maturity, old age
- III points: - The summons to meet God - Any watch can be the last
- IV points: - The importance of vigilance - Personal story of the camping party
- V points: - Consequences of neglecting watchfulness - Guarding against sin
Key Quotes
“It is never too soon to begin watching against sin.” — A.B. Simpson
“The summons to meet God may come to us in any of these watches.” — A.B. Simpson
“We became especially careful after what I am about to narrate happened.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Reflect on your current stage of life and consider how you can be more vigilant in your faith.
- Establish daily practices that keep you spiritually alert and prepared for Christ's return.
- Share the importance of watchfulness with others to encourage a community of readiness.