The Art of Watchful Waiting

I can imagine what any medic reading this article might think about the above title. The Cambridge Dictionary defines watchful waiting as a way of treating a medical condition that involves waiting and watching for further disease symptoms to develop rather than immediate treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy. Wikipedia qualifies it further, stating that

repeated testing may be performed during this time and identifies related terms, including expectant management, active surveillance, and masterly inactivity.

This happens during the Advent Season: Mother Church arranges the liturgical year to include a time of preparation during which we direct our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. But Advent is not about speculation. The scripture readings in Advent tell us not to waste valuable time on predictions and to be alert and ready, lest our hearts become weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life (Lk 21:34).

We began Liturgical Year B reading from Mark’s Gospel on the 1^st Sunday of Advent, which repeats the command to watch out and stay alert (Mark 13: 33). We regard this as a joyous season of preparation for His arrival. There is no time for leisurely faith; we pray, do penance, and keep the fast. St. Paul urges us to walk carefully as wise people, making the most of our time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15–16). This 1^st Sunday of Advent, St. Mark’s Gospel gives the example of the faithful servants (Mark 13:34–36), while St. Matthew points us to the bridal party waiting for the groom (Matthew 25:1–13). Matthew warns that just because Jesus seems delayed is not permission to engage in ungodly acts (cf. Matthew 24:48–51). As Christ’s followers, we need to value God’s plan over whatever earthly comforts we enjoy. The Lord Jesus wants us to survive the tribulations. This is why He exhorts us always to stay alert (Mark 13:33, 37) since not even He knows when He will return – only God does (Mark 13:32).

It will be easier for Christians to survive the tribulation if our minds remain sharp. There are many ways by which we are watchful and ready for things in this life that hopefully will never happen. But are we similarly vigilant and prepared for eternal life with the Lord Jesus, which we know will happen? In Mark’s Gospel, a man goes away, leaving his house in his servants’ charge, and tasks the one at the door to keep watch. May they not be “asleep” if He comes back suddenly. The long liturgical year may have been filled with routine activities that render us a flippant attitude of doing whatever we want, regardless of what God says.

Advent reminds us that the Lord Jesus came and bore the cross to save us, that Jesus comes daily to graciously provide His renewing forgiveness by the Holy Spirit, who daily sanctifies us into new life, that Jesus is coming again in fulfilment of His promise to go and prepare a place for you (and I). He will return to take you (and I) to be with Him (John 14:3). This is why we wait watchfully for His Coming Again. We must be peaceful and joyful because He has already done all the preparations. We are enriched in every way and do not lack any spiritual gift even as we wait for Him to be revealed. He keeps us strong to the end so that we will be blameless on the Day (1 Corinthians 1:7-9).

Why We need to be Watchful

Many Christians wait for the Return of Jesus Christ, but the command we receive in this Gospel is to watch, stay alert and be self-controlled. We need this watchfulness because our fallen self worsens if we are not on guard. There is a likelihood of slipping slowly away from our firm commitment to Christ. St. Paul warns that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2), and those outside of Christ will be caught off guard. If we wait watchfully, we will not be stunned. As the calendar year draws to a close, Christians can be lulled into complacency. There are too many holidays happening this season with so many distractions. We must be careful what we grasp onto, know what is essential for life, and keep watching so we do not grab for this passing world and lose the coming. We hold onto mesmerising worldly treasures and risk losing a more fabulous treasure that guarantees eternal life. As we wait for Christ’s coming, we must not cling to the treasures of this world but watch expectantly for His return.

The Nature of Our Watchfulness

According to St. Paul, our watchfulness should be mental (1 Thess. 5:4-6a). Since we are not without understanding, we should be expectant. Unlike the sleeping world, we must be alert. No guard on duty can afford not to be mentally sharp. Each must be knowledgeable about the enemy, acutely aware of the surroundings, fully understanding matters of warfare, alert to ominous danger and strategically planning for the future. Waiting for the future does not translate to being attentive to the day’s issues. Being watchful, however, indicates alertness to the current needs. It means doing something today to be ready for tomorrow.

St. Paul adds that our watchfulness should be moral (1 Thess. 5:6b-8). He means that we are self-controlled to watch and not just wait. He illustrates using sleep and drunkenness as contrasts to mental alertness. In this season of endless parties, we must be morally self-controlled in all behaviour, staying away from extremes and keeping balances. Moral self-control is knowing what is right, doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. We need watchfulness not to be taken in by this world’s system of values. The common law in nature demands that we take the path of least resistance. Learning about relationships by watching TV drama series instead of developing authentic relationships with real people is much easier. It is even easier to complain about the Sunday service than to make it engaging by participating in it. Being watchful means that we must constantly fight the battle to avoid taking the easiest way, which has many enemies trying to rob us. We must guard ourselves against the moral influences of the world. We might feel good about not failing in big ways, but it is more important to guard our hearts against the more minor attitudes that can be as painful and as damning as the big sins. The small things (like the banana peel you don’t see in your path and you slip on it and fracture your leg) are likely to trip us up, which we tend to be off guard against.

St. Paul points out the motivation to stay alert and self-controlled (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11). He states that God has not destined us for wrath but for something much better than what we now have. We have a future worth staying alert for. We are not merely passing the time waiting; we are watching for our Lord’s return. This is our faithfulness in this lifetime – we are staying mentally alert and morally self-controlled. Our lives must bear witness to future generations that we were servants of the Lord, faithfully watching for the day of the Lord Jesus’ return. In my own small way, I hope to follow St. Paul’s footsteps and encourage you (and many others) to build each other up as we carry out our guard duty to wait watchfully. Our waiting time as sentries must be watchful and productive.

Practical Ways to Be Watchful this Advent

• Be vigilant and constantly look for any danger signs or impending adverse events. Learn from the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel was to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). We are to have a good knowledge of biblical prophecy and understand how things will play out at the end times. Then, we will know what stage we live in and what relevant action to take.
• Rely solely on wisdom and instruction from the Holy Spirit, for only the Lord God knows the future, whether today or tomorrow. Thus, in prayer, we ask the Holy Spirit what things in our future, or even in our nation’s future, we should be aware of so that we can act accordingly (John 16:13).
• Be part of a church fellowship where all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation because we are not meant to work these things out on our own. We should be part of a fully functioning body – the Church.
• Be alert and of sober mind because our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Being watchful involves being aware of the devil’s schemes and potential traps (2 Corinthians 2:11).
• Be in a state of readiness for the Lord’s return like the prudent virgins, with extra oil to keep our lamps burning during the watchful wait (Matthew 25:13).
• Watch not to be deceived (Matthew 24:4)
• Watch out for and not get involved with religiosity (Mark 8:15)
• Watch out for false teachings (Mark 12:38) and false prophesies (Matthew 7:15)
• Watch out for and avoid all types of greed (Luke 12:15)
• Watch out for false messiahs (Luke 21:8)
• Oversee the Lord’s flock (Acts 20:28), according to God’s will (1 Peter 5:2)
• Watch out for and keep away from those who cause dissensions and hindrances and adhere to false teachings (Romans 16:17)
• Watch out not to be destroyed by in-fighting (Galatians 5:15)
• Pay close attention to yourself and the teaching, and persevere in these things so that you will save yourself and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4:16)
• Watch not to lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive your full reward in heaven (2. John 1:8).

Take-Home Message

Every Christian is called to watch. We are watching people by office. We have a duty of watchfulness, frequently commanded and commended in scripture. The Gospels warn that we do not know the appointed time (Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:33 & Luke 12:37). St. Paul urges us to be firm and steadfast in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:18 & Colossians 4:2). St. Peter cautions us to watch against the prowling adversary (1 Peter 5:8). And we should emulate David and wait as those that watch for the morning light (Psalm 130:6). First, we watch over ourselves. Then, we encourage and watch over each other. And, we resolve that this Advent, we will spend at least one hour watching for Christ.

*NB: All Bible quotations are from the NASB Version