"Am I My Brother's Keeper?"

The Watchman

Ezekiel 33:7-9 - The LORD puts an awesome responsibility on Ezekiel's shoulders in these two verses. You can choose to assume that the Old Testament WORD is not valid in these New Testament Times or you can choose to accept that when the "WORD became flesh" that it was the entire WORD. I have always believed that the WORD is the inspired message of the Creator and we cannot avoid or void out any portion of it.

Ezekiel 33:7-9 [7] "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. [8] When I say to the wicked, `O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. [9] But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

Throughout the Scriptures there is a recurring theme of believers as Watchmen over others. In Genesis [4:9] Cain asks, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer then was YES! The charge to Ezekiel was YES!

The charge to us today is YES! Jesus left us with a commandment to "Love One Another..." That makes us our "brother's keeper". Unlike Cain, we are not answering a question about where "our brother" is physically but where "our brother" is spiritually.

Keep in mind God's admonition to Ezekial: "But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself." As our Savior departed this earth He gave us what we call the Great Commission. Is it really all that different from the call Yahweh gave to Ezekiel? Do you want to appear in front of Christ and hear what was said to Ezekiel in verse 8? Do you want to accountable for the blood of those around you?

In John 10:3 Jesus tells us that "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." We are called to be watching over the spiritual health of our friends [and enemies] and to open their ears to the voice of the Savior - the watchman who opens the gate of pearl.

Step up and spread the WORD. You aren't alone in this effort. From every moment since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been waiting for you to ask for help in converting some sinner. Some will heed your call yet others will not. Having made the effort you, like Ezekiel will "have saved yourself."

Let those who have ears....

Wilkie Nunn, Pastor, Downsville CoB