Be On Alert

​Alerts.
You and I are well familiar with alerts.
Breaking News alerts. Weather alerts. Silver alerts. Medical alerts. Computer alerts.  Consumer alerts. Product alerts. Law enforcement alerts. Alerts, alerts, and more alerts! Some of us might need an alert to remind us of the rest of our alerts!
According to Webster, the word alert means to watch, look out for, pay attention to, be aware of, warn, a call to a state of readiness.
Back in 1973, when I was doing my best to survive boot camp at the United States Naval Station in San Diego, California, naive, raw recruits like me were put on watch, guard duty. What were we guarding? San Diego, of course.
 I remember vividly being diligent at my guard post, on alert, watching over San Diego in the middle of the night, carrying a fake rifle. Our drill sergeants put the fear of God and Satan in us so that some recruits (not this guy!) thought they were really watching out for the Russians,  Chinese or North Vietnamese to attack San Diego! Anchors away my boys!
Seriously, green-horn, wet behind the ears, wanna-be sailors were trained in boot camp to be on alert, on guard, at our post, watchful, looking out for the enemy in the event we would be engaged in combat in a war zone.
Christians are good soldiers of Christ (II Timothy 2:1-4) in a spiritual war zone (Ephesians 6:10-12) battling Satan and the powers of hell. (I Peter5:8-9). You and I must be on constant alert if we are to push back the gates of hell in Jesus’ name (Matthew 16:18-19).    
Jesus taught something significant about being watchful, on alert.
In Matthew 24, the Lord describes the signs of His glorious return. Read them to be refreshed, blessed, and encouraged. In verses 42-44 Jesus teaches about being on alert.
 “Therefore, (in light of His return) be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on alert, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  For this reason, you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming in an hour when you do not think He will.”
Three times Jesus exhorts His followers to be on alert, ready, watchful. For what? His return! He will come when it is time to return, and therefore, we should be looking for Him at any time. That means we must be watchful, ready, alert for His second coming.
Jesus also issues a word of warning to watch out for the thief. The devil is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. ( John 10:10a). The homeowner is watchful so the thief cannot break into his home and steal his stuff.
 Christians must be watchful, on the alert for two things: our enemy Satan’s attacks and Jesus glorious return resulting in our homegoing to heaven!
Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5:5-6 “For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do; but let us be on alert and sober.”
 Jesus made it clear: As you wait for My return, be on alert, watchful, looking for Me to split the eastern sky, coming triumphantly on a cloud in the air with the heavenly host! What a glorious day that will be for all who believe in Him!
How You Can Be On Alert

• Know your enemies and what they are after in your life. Do your do diligence. 
• Be discerning concerning the deception, distortion and twisting of truth that bombards our minds daily. Be alert regarding worldly news alerts!
• Do not sleep at the wheel as a follower of Jesus Christ. Wake up and stay awake.  
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to keep you spiritually alert and on guard.
• Fortify your faith with God’s Word from the Bible. Know and confess the Word.
• Put on every piece of your spiritual armor every single day. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
• Stay away from, do not associate or fellowship with careless folks who are not watchful in their Christian lives. You can “unfriend” hypocrites and pretenders.
• Praise the Lord that He helps you stay alert, on guard, watchful, looking expectantly for God to work on your behalf in mighty ways!  

Listen my friend, if you and I do not stay alert, who will be alert for us? Our anti-Christian, worldly system labors relentlessly to lull you and me to sleep spiritually. How can we resist the enemy of our souls and his evil minions if we are snoozing at our post?
Be aware. Look out for your faith. Pay careful attention to your spiritual life. Stay close to Jesus. Be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. With every step you take, walk courageously and confidently in the power of God.
If our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ exhorted His followers, including you and me, to be on alert, maybe, just maybe we should heed and obey His words.
Beloved believer in Christ, please, please be on alert, Watchful.  Looking out for anyone or anything that would try to discourage or derail your Christian faith.
People who you love and care about, as well as a spiritually lost world, are counting on you to be on alert.
Keep watching. Jesus is coming back! Hallelujah!  
“Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” I Corinthians 16:13
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, know ng that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” I Peter 5:8-9
A Word For Your Week: Stay alert as you walk by faith in Jesus Christ awaiting His return.