New Testament Readings: Thoughts on Taking Heed and Watching

In Mark 13 The Savior gives a lot of warning to his disciples. He tells us to take heed lest any man deceive you, to watch and pray. In verse 35 Jesus says that we do this because we know not when the master of the house cometh. This at times results in a frenzy of speculation. We look for signs of the times for that great day when Christ will return. We also may breathe a sign of relief when we see a rainbow bow because we “have at least another year to prepare ourselves.”
The truth is, now is the time to prepare to meet God. (Alma 12:24) The second coming is not the only way we meet God. The people of the City of Enoch were prepared to meet God. They did not have to wait for God to come to them, they went to Him. While we might not be translated, death can come at any time.
To prepare we must keep our eye on the Prophet and trust him. When a message needs to me delivered to the Church, it will come through the Prophet. We also need to make sure we are standing in holy places. A family I respect had so many kids they don’t all fit in a consumer vehicle. All the children were married in the temple. When asked about their success as parents he replied, “if the church was open, we were there.” They knew that church, mutual, building cleaning, firesides, and conferences were going to help their family prepare to meet God.
To have the strength it requires to combat that false prophets that are here we cannot pick and choose what aspects of the Gospel we want to live. We need to live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. (D&C 98:11)
Read some of our other New Testament Readings posts.