Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood."¹

In ancient days, as in the days of Ezekiel some 500-600 years BC, many cities built large stone walls several feet thickâ€"sometimes a double wallâ€"surrounding their entire city to protect them from invading armies. Tall towers were built at the corners of the wall in which watchmen were stationed to keep a look out for any approaching hostile forces. More watchmen kept watch by walking on the walls while other watchmen were on guard at the city gates. When the watchmen saw an enemy army approaching, they were to blow the warning trumpet to alert their troops and to warn the people of the approaching enemy. If the watchmen failed to warn the city, they would pay for their failure with their life.

God also commissioned the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel against living ungodly lives saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself."²

Today, God is calling every Christian to be a watchman/woman to inform people that "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."³ That is, every person will, when they die, stand before God to give an account of his/her life, and unless one has received God's forgiveness for all their sins, they will have to bear that judgment for themselvesâ€"the just penalty being to spend eternity totally separated from God and all loving relationships in the place the Bible calls Hellâ€"whatever and wherever that may be. However, the good news is that God has given his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all mankind's sins so all who choose to do so can receive God's pardon for all their sins and receive God's gift of eternal life to live forever with Him in Heaven. As God's Word says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."⁴

Equally important is that every Christian is also called to be a watchman/woman having been commissioned by Jesus Christ to let everyone know that God has provided a way of escape from the punishment of Hell by providing a full pardon for all who choose to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. As Jesus commissioned his followers saying: "You are to go into all the world and preach [God's] Good News to everyone, everywhere."⁵

The Word of God gives a solemn warning to all mankind regarding judgment after death. It also notes a solemn responsibility for every Christian to be actively involved in informing people regarding God's warning and for sharing God's message of forgiveness through the saving gospel of Jesus Christ â€"the only hope for lost mankind and our sin-sick world.

Will you answer God's call to be a Watchman/woman for Jesus Christ?

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in appreciation for your giving your life to pay the just penalty for all my sin, and for your forgiveness and the gift of eternal life with you in Heaven forever, I surrender my heart and life to you and choose, with your help, to be a watchman or watchwoman to help share the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with as many people as possible. I admit that I am afraid, but I am available for you to do your work through me. Thank you for your help, for using me, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: If you have never received God's full pardon for all your sins, please read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

1. Ezekiel 33:6 (NIV).
2. Ezekiel 3:17-19 (NIV).
3. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
4. John 3:16 (NKJV).
5. Mark 16:15 (TLB)(NLT).

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