The Third Watch
Dear Reader,
"If He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch" (Luke 12: 38).
Year after year and watch after watch has passed, and our Lord has not yet come. Still, however, His word, "I come quickly," abides in all its eternal freshness and truth; and long ago the Spirit said, "The night is far spent, and the day is at hand." How soon then He may be here!
The time of the second watch arrived, and passed away, and the Bridegroom did not come; but "at midnight," the closing moments of the second watch, He sent forth an awakening cry: "At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom; go ye out to meet Him." Then there was a general awakening, and many hearts in different parts of the earth were stirred towards Him. The coming of the Lord for His church, that blessed hope, was once again shining bright before the eyes of His faithful people. We are told it was at midnight when this cry went forth, that the third watch began. According to the Jewish mode of reckoning, it extended from midnight to three in the morning. The third watch clearly has been far advanced. We are therefore now at the end of the third watch. The Lord’s coming for us cannot be far off. Though we look not for events, but for the Lord Himself, yet many events show that "the day," which sets in after we are gone, is "approaching." He is the Hope of the Church of God. His last presentation of Himself to His Church on earth, to comfort and attract our hearts heavenward to Himself, was, "…the Bright and Morning Star" and He added, "Surely I come quickly." What should our warm and constant response to such grace be then but, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus"
How very solemn, then, as well as cheering, are the words of our Lord: "If He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so [that is, watching], blessed are those servants." May we hear His voice to us in these encouraging words, and not only wait for Him, but watch; for, said He, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark. 13:37.)
Dear Friends, we are thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness and goodness toward us in the past year. I am grateful to those faithful saints who have quietly been a source of help and encouragement to me in producing Toward The Mark. The Lord is their rewarder. Also, I want to thank all of you dear readers for your overwhelming response to the magazine. It is our prayer that the Lord will use Toward the Mark to help you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him.
Please keep praying for the Lord’s blessing on Toward the Mark.
Yours in our soon-coming Lord,
Emil S. Nashed
Please send your questions and comments to:
Toward The Mark
c/o Wayne Christian Assembly
60 Smith Lane
Wayne, NJ 07470-5354
Attention: Emil S. Nashed
