A few weeks ago, I preached a sermon on “The End is Near: So What Do We Do?” from 1 Peter 4:7-11. The writers of the New Testament speak of the “end times” in extremely practical terms. The end of all things is at hand… so here is how you should live practically day to day as you await the coming of the Lord. One thing that we must continually give ourselves to in light of the end is prayer.
We live in a time where the news cycle is always in constant panic. There is always a new crisis, new war, new scandal, and new political event that clamors for our attention. The media thrives on fear-mongering and selective outrage. Everything is a crisis for about five minutes until the next crisis comes. The problem is that as Christians we can get sucked up into this vortex and cease to watch and pray as Peter calls us to (1 Pt. 4:7).
This is not a pastoral appeal to stop watching news coverage. Ignorance of the situation around us is not godliness, but erratic outrage that allows the events of the world around us to capture us and alter where our hope resides is not godliness either. Safeguard your soul from being distracted or entrapped by anything that will distract you from this great task. Watchfulness in prayer is an alert awareness of the deceitfulness of sin in our own hearts and an awareness of the times we are living in. As we watch and pray, we are expressing our complete dependence upon God to continue to help us preserve in the face of these things.
This is why Peter says, “be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” A Christian who is sober and self-controlled understands what time it is. They understand what the appropriate conduct is for the situation they are in. They are awake, mindful, and alert to “this present evil age.” They are on guard against false teachers and the depravity of men in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1-9). A sober Christian will not be distracted by the love of the World nor by idle speculations or foolish controversies. A Christian who daily watches and prays with urgency and consistency knows something about God that a prayerless Christian does not. So may we give ourselves constantly to prayer, keeping close watch over our souls. May we pray for the peace and purity of the church and the gospel to go to the nations. May we pray for peace and righteousness in our nation. Our time together on Wednesdays is one means through which we can do just this.
In Christ, Pastor John