For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping
Mark 13:34-36 KJV
In the creation account, every new day was marked with an evening and a morning. This continues for six times until man comes into rest with God on the day of Sabbath. This has significance in our everyday walk with God and in the work of redemption. The work of God is always characterized by an evening and a morning season. This cycle continues six times, six being the number of man. As long as there is still imperfection in a man, the evening and morning cycle continues. However, once man comes into a state of perfection and enters his full rest, the evening and the morning ceases. Zechariah 14:6-7 (MSG) confirms this saying ” What a Day that will be! No more cold nights—in fact, no more nights! The Day is coming the timing is GOD’s when it will be continuous day. Every evening will be a fresh morning.
What are the evening and the morning?
The bible speaks of four-night watches in the book of Luke 12:35-38: the evening, the midnight, the cock crow (dawning of the day), and the morning. Each of these times characterizes various ways the Lord comes to us to perform His work in us. For each command of the Lord to us, there is first an evening, which is a time of sacrifice as Psalm 141:2, 1 King 18:36 says. This was also around the time where our Lord Jesus was sacrificed for us. Having received the Word of God, the evening time is where we are called to lay down our lives and this is not always a beautiful experience. It is a time of surrender to God.
The night time is characterized by sleep and drowsiness as 1 Thessalonians 5:7 says. It is an hour of darkness where many fall. However, we are children of the day and not the night. It is a time where it is hard to see the Light, who is God. That said, It is also a time where God works. The coming of the Lord at this time is like a doctor who puts anesthesia on his patient to perform work. In Genesis 15:8-21, we see that God had asked of Abraham a sacrifice and it was in the night hour when he had slept that the Lord visited him. There is the sleep the Lord gives and the sleep characterized with works of unrighteousness. The Lord coming at midnight is typically to complete a work, just like He put Adam to sleep to complete work in him. The breaking of the dawn is a sign that something transpired through the night and is the beginning of the resurrection life. Finally, whenever the Lord comes with joy, deliverance, and gladness, that is the morning. This marks the completion of a day of the Lord’s work.
Jesus mentioned that the Lord can come in any of the watches and advises His servants not to be carried away by the activities of the season they are in, but to expect His coming. Luke 12:35-38 is a command to the servants of the Lord, to keep watch through the night. He mentions the attitude that a servant of the Lord must have, not given to wantonness and rioting and drunkenness, strife and envying as they that are of the night. Instead, He commands that our soul waits for the Lord, through the night to the morning, as a night watchman waits for the morning. He commands us to wait in expectation for the promise of our deliverance.
Final thoughts: With every promise of the Lord, whether it involves our character, redemption, or even promises regarding areas of our lives, there is often a time of sacrifice and a time of patience when waiting for the promise. However, He that will come will surely come. Let it be that when the Lord comes to you, He finds you watching with faith for His promised deliverance. Remember that weeping may endure for the night, but Joy always comes in the morning.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your Words of encouragement to me that Your promises are sure and will always come to pass. Lord help me to always have a heart posture of waiting for Your deliverance, regardless of how long the night may seem. Because as You have promised, it shall come to pass and not delay. My eyes shall see the deliverance and salvation of the Lord. Amen
0 Comments