Worthy To Escape And To Stand

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

Watch and pray always – “Watch” has the idea of being awake and ready; “pray” is to petition by pleading. The evil world in which we live is extremely intrusive into our spiritual lives and duties. Much determination must be given to maintain a proper relationship with the Father in the exercising of responsibilities to the Kingdom work and to the sanctification of personal spiritual growth. This is not to be an occasional patching up but a constant safe keeping.

Worthy to escape – “Worthy” means to be judged as deserving. There is no doubt that none of us are judged as deserving recipients of His great salvation; hence, grace through mercy is implemented on our behalf. This passage by context is in reference to escaping the evil that is coming upon the earth. Many shall suffer that which is to come because they refuse to “watch and pray always”. This neglect of their spiritual health gives judgment to the fact that they do not deserve to escape the coming evil. Now, this is not matter for the courts of the land; this is by the clear verdict of an all knowing God. With the Creator there is no “blind” justice, for He sees all.

Worthy to stand – We understand by the Book of Revelation that the redeemed shall stand “before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes”. Could it be said, “we are worthy”? It cannot! It is the worthiness of Christ in us that obliges us to stand before Him. While this is true, our text also causes us to realize there is something required of us. The “factor” that deems one to be deserving (worthy) to stand in the presence of the King must be his faithfulness to redeem the time, for the days are evil, and to always remain before the throne of mercy petitioning help from the Father. Do the balances of the Judge tip in our favor for worthiness to escape the days of evil and to stand before the Son?