Watching or Alert?

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is [coming] . 34 It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his  slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Mark 13:32-37 (HCSB)

Are you watching or Alert?  You may be asking isn't it the same thing?  No in this case it really isn't.  There are many Christians who are watching for Jesus to return.  They are sitting back, and waiting.  They want to get all the information (prophecy) to know when that final hour will be like, what will happen before that day, they are anxiously waiting Jesus return.

But the Christ follow is to be Alert.  Very different!  Being alert is not passively sitting by watching the skies.  Alertness is to be busy, it is activity it is working, it is fulfilling His purpose for us because we know our King is coming.  The Christ follower is busy doing the assigned task until He returns.  What is the assigned task.  It is bringing as many into the Kingdom as we can.  Sharing the message of our King and His Kingdom until He breaks open the eastern sky.

Are you watching or Alert?