MARK records that Jesus, shortly before the completion of his earthly ministry, instructed his disciples to be watchful against evil, in the words, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
While recognizing the importance of such qualities as wisdom, purity, spiritual understanding, truthfulness, and love, the master Christian did not ignore or neglect alertness or watchfulness, a quality which helps to bring out the fundamentals of Christian character. He had studied the Scriptures and had found in them unquestionable proofs of its efficacy. Though tested by the belief that sensation, satisfaction, and intelligence are in matter, and that sin, sickness, and death are real, he met and mastered every temptation. In so doing he showed us the way—showed us how to do likewise. Could he have accomplished this had he not been watchful in obeying the law of God? That positive understanding of the allness of God, and of error's consequent nothingness, which enabled him to say with authority, "Get thee behind me, Satan," could be gained only through watchfulness over his every thought, word, and act.
In the parable of the sower the Master pointed out the need of watchfulness regarding apathy, pride, and all that goes with the sense of a selfhood apart from God, and showed that these conditions indicate the wrong thinking which would rob one of his God-given dominion. Watchfulness enabled Jesus to condemn impersonal evil. Can we do better than humbly follow the Wayshower's example?
