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Watch Constantly  

What is our life in this world from beginning to end but a dark night 
of temptation? Christian, it is so very important to make sure your 
sentry lamp does not go out in this darkness, and your enemy catch 
you unawares. If you drift off into spiritual slumber, you are an easy 
mark for his wrath. And you may be sure if you do let sleep overtake 
you, the devil will hear of it. He knew the apostles' sleeping time and 
desired to sift them like wheat (Luke 22:31). A thief is just getting up 
when honest men are going to bed. The devil, I am sure, begins to 
tempt when saints cease to watch. So be consistent in your 
watchfulness; otherwise you stand to lose everything.  

Some Christians, having been injured by a serious fall into sin, will 
be very careful for a while as to where they walk and the kind of 
company they keep. But as the soreness of their consciences wear 
off, they forget to keep watch and become careless as ever. A 
shopkeeper who has just been robbed is very careful to lock up his 
store thoroughly. He may even stay up late to watch it for several 
nights, but as time passes he relaxes his guard and at last gives it no 
further attention.  

Josephus, in his Antiquities, tells us that the sons of Noah lived only 
on the tops of high mountains for some years after the flood, not 
daring to build houses on lower ground for fear of being drowned by 
another deluge. But as time passed and no flood came, they ventured 
down into the plain of Shinar where their former fear gave way to 
one of the boldest, most arrogant attempts against God that man 
ever pursued. They tried to build a tower high enough to reach 
heaven (Genesis 11:2-4). The very men who at first were so fearful 
of drowning that they would not venture down the hill, at last 
ventured on a plan to protect themselves against all future attempts 
from the God of heaven to judge them.  

             William Gurnall 
               1616-1679  
The Christian in Complete Armour 



Jan Ross
jross@...
http://focusontheword.com
ICQ#18767082
"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.  I had rather be a  doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."  (Psalm 84:10)

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