Watch Yourself

One of the goals or desires of many religious practitioners is to obtain salvation in time for the culmination of "the last days." Few realize, however, that salvation is a state of being, not a token to acquire. In fact, as I reviewed a familiar scripture, it dawned on me that so many such folks are so externally focused that their are failing to prepare themselves to be able to stand in that day. In other words, why is there such a clamoring among (zealous) practitioners to make others to do right and live right, or to perfect the practice of religion, but not the same level of urgency to get one's own house in order? Contemplation upon this question yielded the following message.

When children enter those turbulent teenage years, parents, teachers, and other loved ones frequently caution those young folks to watch out for and be aware of challenges, risks, and dangers that they will face as they learn to stand on their own. We teach them how to avoid certain people, people who dress a certain way or who put off a certain type of aura (of foolishness). We teach them how to understand certain slang and lingo, so that they understand when knuckleheads around them are speaking in code about no-good activities.

We certainly know the problems that can arise if they become involved with drugs--either using, transporting, or selling. We know the problems that can arise from premature/unprotected sex. We know the problems one faces when a kid runs around with gangsters, or become involved with shoplifting, fraud, and countless other vices.

But, if we're not mindful of how we teach, or how we otherwise raise or treat these impressionable minds, we can cause the young people to seek out these things out of rebellion or for the sake of curiosity. Alternatively, we could cause them to become paranoid and fearful of normal, everyday life. And, if we aren't careful, we could prepare them for the worst, and yet allow their schoolwork and grades, and participation in other well-rounding activities to slip, making is difficult for them to pursue opportunities for higher education.

Needless to say, child rearing, whether as a primary parent, or even as a distant relative or teacher, is an challenging prospect. It is not enough for us to teach young people to avoid the bad going on around them; we must encourage them to embrace the good (and the effort it requires) for their own well-being and success.

This example has its parallel in religious and spiritual teachings. Often times, practitioners focus on evil and sin in the world, on avoiding unnecessary challenges and temptations coming from the outside, and from what people are "doing" to us. But, this is an incomplete approach to righteous living, because regardless of what another is doing (or trying to do), we still have to do right on our own! In other words, you have to watch yourself!

In this familiar scripture, Jesus describes the events of the last days to his disciples. Essentially, he told them that they would be dreadful days, that when the chaos starts, the time is nigh, and that, in a sudden, unexpected moment, the end will come. He thus gave the warning, "Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass..." And so, ever since the time of Bishop William S. Crowdy, people all over the world have expected that, as Mark 1:15 records, "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the Gospel."

Some people have started doomsday cults and gone through all sorts of what I would call "extreme preparations." Many have taken to the streets to preach against sin. Many sects send their proselytes to knock on doors in an effort to save the so-called unwitting souls from a burning hell. Many of these same ones, however, do not emphasize righteous living as a path to salvation. In fact, many believe that such a thing is impossible, and thus they teach and are content to believe in/on a man who lived 2,000 years ago; trusting that their belief in this man is enough to save them.

In short, the message is clear: "Preach against sin, warn people to flee from the fiery gates of hell, but there is little that one can do about it except to believe in/on another man, and hope that that is enough."

Bishop William S. Crowdy taught in his lesson, "Repentance"¹:

"...here we see a great difference between God's way to the kingdom of Heaven and the way that man has studied out. For when the sinner asks the preacher nowadays what shall he do, he tells them to come and give him their hand and God their heart, and then kneel down at the mourner's bench and pray, and those words are not in the Bible in that way."

In fact, when speaking of these times, Jesus said nothing of himself; but rather, he taught, "Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy..." How does watching and praying help you and me become worthy to escape the chaos of the last day? If I'm just watching what others do, how does it benefit me? It doesn't, unless, of course, you and I do something as a consequence of what we've seen!

If we see chaos, sin, hedonism, cruelty, and oppression, we should certainly pray to escape it or to be protected from it. But, we must also refrain from sin, hedonism, cruelty, and oppression! Seeing it happen and praying that God protects and saves us does not make us worthy! In fact, God suffers us to experience some challenges and, instead of delivering us from them, may simply give us strength to stand and endure.

Let us, for a moment, bring to mind an athletic competition, such as the Olympic trials, or a playoff elimination series. In order for the athletes or team to be worthy, they must engage the activity, the game, the opponent... they don't make it just because of their skill. They have to engage, excel, and overcome the obstacle, the other team; outlast them, score higher than they do. They have to somehow prevail, and prevail against very capable athletes or teams who, themselves are trying to win. The winners prove themselves worthy to advance to the championship, or to qualify for the team.

Every time I see these competitions, the participants are sweating, sore, dirty, exhausted. They have exerted a great deal of effort to be accounted worthy to escape elimination. No matter how much they believed they could do it, no matter how often they trained or practiced, no matter how much money they were paid in their contract, no matter how many fans and well-wishers cheered them on, they had to do it in the gym, on the court, or on the field. And we, the spectators marvel at their athleticism, their effort, their grit, their grace, their perseverance, and yes, their triumph! We admire their dedication; in fact, it inspires others (especially little kids) to emulate their drive and will to succeed.

But make no mistake, we are inspired by their will, which they manifest through action.

The same is true in our lives, as we pursue the goal of ascendant spirituality. No matter how much we believe in Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed (or anyone else), no matter how convinced we are about the truth of their teachings, no matter how much their dedication to spreading the message amid the perils they faced amazes us...

No matter how much sin and oppression we see (and avoid) in the world, no matter how much prayer and fasting we engage in, at some point, we will have to cease from doing sin and do right ourselves!

We will have to feed the poor, clothe the naked, bring the prisoners out of the prison house, shine the light in darkness. We will have to teach the ignorant. We will have to somehow engage in the struggle to overcome our individual shortcomings with humility, patience, and courage. We will have to assist our fellow pilgrim in our collective walk, extending a loving hand, a compassionate heart, and a humble spirit. We will have to find a way to eliminate the other-ness in our fellowman, and learn to see others as reflections of ourselves.

We have to change from being unworthy to being worthy!

As Jesus taught, "Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me."

To be worthy of the "Promised Land", we must make our way through the desert and then cross over Jordan. It won't matter how much we believe in Moses, and it won't matter how much we believe in Joshua. If we don't go forward through the obstacles, we won't make it into the Promised Land. So, certainly, let us watch and pray, but let us be mindful not to be so externally focused that you neglect to watch yourself. As Psalm 139 exhorts us:

[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
[24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

¹Crowdy, William S. , "The Bible Gospel Told", Church of God Publication House, Philadelphia, 1902, page 12.

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