Renewal In Christ Mission - Now Is The Time

NOW IS THE TIME

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die... - Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

One of the greatest and most important discoveries of this century was the realization that our universe had a definite beginning. This old universe was not simply here as many had once thought, but it came into being at a definite point in eternity. Not only did our universe come into existence at a definite point in eternity, but according to the world's greatest physicists and astronomers, our universe and everything in it - space, matter, energy and time - came into existence in the tiniest fraction of a second by way of an astounding explosion which they refer to as "The Big Bang". We came into this universe at a definite point in time, and your life and my life in it, has a limited time of existence.

We are constantly aware of the passing of time. Every morning we check our clocks to make sure we get up on time. We check our watches constantly to make sure we keep appointments and to keep up with various schedules. Time is not an easy word to define, but we are so governed by it that some people even develop ulcers because they have so much to do in so little time. In our society we think of time as something to be measured, and the emphasis is on chronological measurement of time by a clock or calendar.

Although the Bible recognizes this character of time, it has very little to say about it. When we study God's Word, it becomes apparent that time is only important in relation to the events which happen in it. We read in the writing of King Solomon that, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die..." In other words, important events which occur in life are given much more importance than the time of the occurrence. Birth, marriage and death are the most important events in the lives of people.

The time of important historical events are also emphasized. For instance, the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was foretold by the prophets hundreds of years before that event took place. And the return of Christ is another event which will occur. That is described as a time of great distress and judgment upon the earth. However, we must realize that we are now living in a time of grace - you and I are now living in the time of salvation. We are still enjoying the opportunity to make our relationship right with God. And that is even more important than birth, marriage or death, because our eternal destiny is dependent upon our right relationship with God. Now, in this life, is the chance to accept the love of God and His gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. This opportunity will never again be possible once you pass from this life: “ …man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”. (Hebrews 9:27).

In the 4th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we read about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. In His hometown synagogue Jesus read a prophecy written by the prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before, about the Savior who was to come. He read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And as Jesus closed the book He announced to the amazement of His listeners, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing".

In other words, with the coming of Christ, there entered into the world the time of opportunity, the time of salvation for everyone who believes in God through Christ. As we read in the 3rd chapter of John (v 16), God did not send His Son into the world the first time in order to condemn the world or to establish a world government, but to give all people the chance to find salvation. We are living in that time - you have been given a certain amount of time and opportunities by God in this life to turn to Him freely of your own will, to experience the magnificent love He is offering to you through His Son.

Don't be like the man who suddenly ran out of time. A man had a physical check up and then he went to the doctor to see the results. The doctor said to the man, "I'm very sorry, but I have bad news and worse news - which would you like to hear first?" The bewildered man said, "Let me hear the bad news first". The doctor said, "You only have 24 hours to live". At this, the poor man was immediately shaken and jumped up saying, "24 hours to live? I can't possibly get all my affairs in order that quickly. I can't believe this, it is utterly incredible.” He asked the doctor, "What can possibly be the worse news?" to which the doctor replied, "The worse news is that I was supposed to tell you this yesterday, but I forgot".

God made His move into your life when He sent His One and Only Son Jesus to pay the price for the ransom of your soul which was held in bondage by Satan. Now it's your move. Have you ever confirmed your faith? Have you ever, of your own free will and volition, prayed and accepted Christ as your Savior? Someday you will stand before God and He will ask you what you did with His Son. It will not be enough to say, "Well, I was baptized as an infant, or I tried to be a good Church member". Most of us were baptized as infants. The Church, our parents and god-parents did this as an act of faith, with the hope that we would grow up in the Faith and accept the significance of the Baptism, which is to be born into God’ s Kingdom. HOWEVER, at the time of baptism, God accepted you as His child and the Church accepted you as a member, but in order to make your salvation valid/complete, YOU MUST ACCEPT GOD BY FAITH (and prove that faith as an active member of the Church).

God has done something for us which we never could do for ourselves, and He paid the highest premium to save us from the most dire predicament. If you had a vision of HELL - eternal separation from God - your entire being would be devastated by the unimaginable horror of that separation - you would immediately get on your knees and beg God to cleanse you of your sins through His Son Jesus Christ, and to make you acceptable into His Kingdom.

God gave you this life (time) and with it all sorts of opportunities to turn to Him and in order to freely accept Him. That is what He wants from us. And if we cannot at least do that much, we make a deliberate and intentional choice to reject Him, to refuse all His goodness and offer of eternal life, and therefore, invite His unwilling condemnation. Therefore, let us be wise and make the best use of the time God has given to each one of us by turning to Him while there is still the chance. Amen.