On the Lookout

Photo by Tomo Nogi on Unsplash

I was waiting with my daughter at her bus stop, and after about 10 minutes, she asked if we could go back inside to warm up. Her bus was late. I sent her into the house, but I stayed on my porch beside my door. I had to position myself, so I could be able to see both the bus coming and be close enough to alert her.

Had I stayed at the bus stop, which is slightly downhill, I would not have been able to get to her in time. If I went inside, the bus may have passed by our house without stopping, since no one else was at the stop. So, I had to stay put and be on the lookout. I certainly didn’t want to stand outside in frigid temperatures, but sometimes, we must forego our own comfort for others. When I saw the bus approaching, I called out to her.  She didn’t respond the first time, so I called out to her again. She came running out in time to catch the bus.

Being a lookout is a responsibility. Many would prefer to be looked after, but most of us have served in both roles. Growing up, there were always people appointed to “look out” for the others. If we were going to the mall or park, we had to ensure the safety of others. We had to make sure they ate, behaved, and didn’t stray too far. Most important, we had to make sure everyone returned safely. We would not think of leaving someone else behind. If we all didn’t come back – none of us came back. If we showed up minus a person – even if that person had wandered off – we had a price to pay.

Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Just as families, communities, and marketplaces establish lookouts, God ordains watchmen in His Kingdom. He appointed the Prophet Ezekiel as such a person. In Ezekiel 33:1-6, God tells Ezekiel to speak to the people and say to them: If the watchman of the land sees war coming against the land and blows the trumpet (sounds the alarm) to warn the people, and if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and war comes and takes their life, then it’s on them. If they heeded the warning, then they have saved themselves. However, if the watchman sees war coming and fails to warn the people, and the war comes and takes someone, then the watchman will be held accountable for the people’s shed blood.

God has positioned some to be on guard: to see what’s coming before if comes, to warn, and to respond. What if I saw my daughter’s bus and said nothing to her, and she missed the bus? It would’ve been on me. Because she is a young child (babe), it still would’ve been my responsibility if she had missed her bus. If she was older (at the age of maturity), then it would’ve been on her.
For watchman: Be alert, on the lookout, and sound the trumpet when needed.  For others: heed the words of the lookouts for your own sake.  If you have wandered off, come back. We don’t want anyone to miss out on their destination or be left behind.

Read also the 3rd chapter of Ezekiel.

Be encouraged.

©2019 by Antoinette V. Barber