Time May Not Be on Our Side
“(For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.“) “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” II Corinthians 6:2; Romans 13:11-12
The rock bank of the 1960’s (and still performing today), the Rolling Stones, had a song entitled “Time is on My Side”. I guess, as far as longevity and the ability to perform is concerned, Mick Jagger was probably right in saying that time was on his side. But that is not true for everyone. Folks today act as if they are going to live forever, and that is true if we consider eternity. One of my former pastors used to say that everyone who has ever been alive is still alive somewhere. Think about that for a moment. How many millions, maybe billions, have gone out into eternity either to be with the Lord forever or wait for the day that God judges all those who rejected His Son as Lord and Savior.
The above verses address two types of people: the lost, those separated from God by sin, and those who have been born again but perhaps have become lax in their faith. In the verse from II Corinthians, Paul is reminding us of the importance of not putting off a positive response to the gospel message. Either God’s offer will be rescinded at some point or one who is lost will pass away from this earthly life, perhaps sooner than later. We have no promise that our lives will continue past the present moment. I know that is a morbid thought, but it is true. There was a commercial on television in which a lady about 65 years old made the remark that she had a long life ahead of her. How did she know that? She didn’t. She only could hope that she would live several more years. Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us that we have a time to be born and a time to die. The minute that we are born, death begins to stalk our trail. The one who rejects the wooing of the Holy Spirit to repent of his or her sins and receive Christ as Lord and Savior may get another opportunity, maybe several. However, the Holy Spirit is like the wind (John 3:8). He comes, one feels the effect of His touch, and then He leaves. Who knows whether He will come again. Many who have received Christ had several opportunities, including me, but that is no guarantee that everyone will.
The verses from Romans 13 are a warning to those who are believers but have allowed the cares of the world to distract them from living a life pleasing to the Lord. To put it today’s terms, Paul is referring to these folks as being “asleep at the wheel”, a sure indication of trouble up ahead. Once my sister-in-law fell asleep while driving and ran into a ditch. It could have been a lot worse. Paul stated, “Knowing the time”. What was the time to which he was referring? I think he was referring to the nearness of the coming of Christ. It doesn’t take a genius to look around and see how fast we are approaching the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if Paul thought it near then, just think how much closer it is now judging by all the events that have taken place just in the last three or four years. He also said that our salvation was nearer than when we first believed. When we repent and place our faith in Christ, we are born again and enter into the journey of salvation which will be complete when we enter our eternal home with the Lord. Every day that passes brings us closer to the time when we will be with Christ either by His return or by our death. But what are we doing with our time now?
The night of sleep is about over. It is time to awake unto the day knowing that Christ’s return is near. Whether He comes next week or in the next century, we don’t have much time to be about our Father’s business. A matter of a few years is merely a blip on God’s radar. Paul tells us to put on the armor of light and walk honestly as if this was our last day on earth. Stay away from all those things that cause distraction from the goal of unity, peace, love, and joy. Don’t waste time in pursuing empty goals, those that in the overall scheme of eternity make no spiritual impact in how we present ourselves in godliness and holiness to a lost and dying world. If, as they, whoever they are, say that appearance is everything, what would you like to be found doing when Jesus returns?