God has consistently used his prophets as watchmen over his people, both in calling them to faithful behavior, and in warning them about what was coming into or against their lives. But the price for being used as a watchman was a demand for faithfulness—to God, and to the people with regard to truthfulness.

The life of the prophet was not a cushy existence by any means, as we can read in Ezekiel 33.6: ‘But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people.’ The responsibility rested only with the prophet to be ready to respond with a warning of what he saw about to happen.

The judgment of the sin in one’s life is always at the ready, but that is not all there is to it, as Ezekiel continues: ‘and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin.’ Sin reaps its own reward, and the wages of sin is still death.

However, the judgment and death of one who dies in sin does not end the matter. There is an accountability factor based upon the fulfillment of one’s call in life—to warn the sinner of impending doom. If the prophet fails to warn the sinner, as Ezekiel concludes: ‘I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ If you know God you are one who is aware of what he has said, and what is to come. You are a watcher for God. You must share with others what you see!