Which Watch Will It Be?
Key Thought: Jesus' words ring across the centuries: "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:37, KJV). As we await His return, faith, hope, and patience are not optional—they are the very oil in our lamps.
The Call to Watch
Jesus' command in Mark 13:37 is simple yet profound: "Watch." Watching is not passive—it is an active, prayerful, and faithful posture. Ellen G. White reminds us: "The time from the end of the prophetic periods to the coming of Christ is emphatically the waiting, watching time. Those who watch, as our Lord commands, will know the time" Ellen G. White Writings.
This means that every believer must ask: Which watch will I be found in? Will I be awake, faithful, and ready—or distracted, weary, and unprepared?
Faith: The Anchor of the Waiting Saints
Faith is the foundation of our watch. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) declares: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Ellen White wrote: "It is the work of faith and the character of His saints to love His appearing and to look for that blessed hope" Digging For Truth. Faith keeps our eyes fixed on Christ, even when the world mocks or doubts His coming.
Encouragement: Saints, your faith is not in vain. Every prayer, every act of obedience, every tear shed in longing for His appearing is seen by Heaven.
Hope: The Song in the Night
Hope is what keeps us singing while we wait. Romans 8:24–25 (KJV) reminds us: "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope… But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Ellen White paints a vivid picture of that hope fulfilled: "Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud… the people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man" The Ellen White information website. That hope is not wishful thinking—it is the certainty of Christ's promise: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3, KJV).
Encouragement: Let hope be your song in the midnight hour. The darker the night, the brighter the promise shines.
Patience: The Endurance of the Saints
Faith and hope must be joined with patience. Revelation 14:12 (KJV) declares: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Ellen White counsels: "We are not to be in a state of uncertainty and careless indifference… We are to watch, work, and wait" Digging For Truth. Patience is not passive delay—it is active endurance, holding steady when the wait feels long.
Encouragement: Saints, do not grow weary. Every moment of patient endurance is shaping you for eternal glory.
Conclusion: Which Watch Will It Be?
The question is not whether Jesus will return—He surely will. The question is: Which watch will you be found in?
- Faith keeps us anchored.
- Hope keeps us singing.
- Patience keeps us enduring.
So let us heed the words of Christ: "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:37, KJV).
Encouragement for the waiting saints: Lift up your heads. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Soon the eastern sky will blaze with glory, and the waiting will be over.