When I was 3 or 4 years old, near the end of WWII, our family lived in a little village in Devon, in a quiet rural environment. The kitchen had an old Rayburn solid-fuel stove. I knew little of the war except that we were fighting Germany. Apparently, early one summer morning I came downstairs and, feeling helpful, began to rake out the cold ash from the range (onto the floor!).

Although absorbed in this activity, when I heard a knock on the back door, I went to open it. It was the coal-delivery man who I hadn't seen before, though he knew me.

Imagine my horror when he leant his blackened face down to my level and said, in a gruff German accent, “Gut morgen, younge man. I have ze coal for you!” I ran in terror, shouting for my mother to rescue me!! Why had no-one told me that they had invaded our village?

What I clearly needed was someone who had watched out for the coal delivery (like we used to for the Corona man!) and warned me. But that morning I was taken completely by surprise. The Home Guard were our watchers for external danger in rural Devon in those days. Indeed, a German plane landed in a field near us, and the pilot was taken in and given tea and biscuits.

The Danger Within

Today, there is another danger, but it comes from within the nation. God watched over Britain during the war, and prevented invasion, but the present danger is as serious though far subtler. It comes from a national lifestyle in which everyday functions like eating and drinking, buying and selling have become increasingly secular, our culture becoming preoccupied by the accumulation of wealth with its associated anxieties, and increased demand for various liberal activities and human 'rights'.

Acknowledgement of the God of Creation, and pursuit of spiritual, Kingdom values like righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, are increasingly being exchanged for values of self-fulfilment: each one doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25, KJV).

Deception about religion, sexual choice and 'freedom', corruption, suppression of the truth (even in the Church), social engineering especially in children, and a lack of personal moral character (2 Tim 3:1-7) make it very easy to miss the signs of the times in these last days.

Against these dangers from within, we need strong warning. Who will watch for these 'enemies' that can blind us to the anti-God changes in our society, and dull our hearing to what God is saying and doing in our nation? His call to us is 'Wake up, Britain!'

Watch for the Signs - Be Prepared

Jesus told us clearly many times to be on our guard: to “be always on the watch, and pray” (Luke 21:36, note the order). The signs are all around us if we are not asleep. Where are our watchmen, to blow the trumpet and warn us, our shepherds to protect the flock from unsuspected danger?

Jesus is returning, as He promised. But when the flood comes, it will come quickly. Read His warning in Matthew 24:37-42. God has appointed watchmen over you and said, Listen to the sound of the trumpet (Jer 6:17)! But will we? We need to be like the sons of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do when danger threatened (1 Chron 12:23, 32).

This warning applies very much to us in Britain today. Thank God there are faithful watchmen among us.

This is the question: Are you prepared? Do you know the Lord Jesus? Will you listen, and watch, and warn those you know of the present danger?

Author: Greg Stevenson