Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
There’s been many times in my life when I have seized the moments that were presented to me during the day. Sometimes a very strong wind will kick up in the afternoon, so Andrew and I will take advantage of the opportunity, hook up the sailboat and launch it out onto the nearby lake for a few hours. It’s a good thing that we did because before you know it, the wind slowly disappears, and the event quickly draws to a close. Some of you might have good intentions and want to get a garden going in the spring, but instead of preparing the ground and getting everything ready, the time just passes you by, and you miss out on a good harvest in the fall.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Our lives are very short while here on Earth, and you need to take advantage of the moments that have been granted to you by God. You don’t want to allow another day to slip by without seizing the opportunity to humble yourselves, to turn to God, and repent of your sins.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Sometimes people think that they have all the time in the world, while the truth is that our lives are like a wisp of smoke. We are here for a short period of time, and then we’re gone. This is why the scriptures teach that today is the day of salvation. The time to repent is right now. It is something that you never want to put off until a later time, because that later time might never come. We are to exhort each other daily while it is called today because your heart can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. The further away that you put off humility towards God, the harder the heart will become.
In comparison to eternal life, our human life is very brief, like a blink of an eye and then it’s gone. It is like the sun that rises high into the sky, but then slowly sets and disappears below the horizon each evening. It is like a green leaf that appears during the summer, but then slowly turns color and passes away in the fall. You want to take advantage of the window of opportunity that God has given you before it is gone. Today is the day to use the time that God has given you for his purposes rather than your own. Many people will put things off till next week, next month or even next year but when it comes to matters that concern our eternal salvation, they must be taken care of right now.
Some people tell themselves that they will
repent when they get old, but that time never comes because their life is cut short. Others convince themselves that they will repent when they are on their deathbed, but their lives are reaped suddenly and without warning. At one moment, someone can be walking down the street, and then fall over the next. They can get into an accident on the highway and in a split second their life is gone. At that point it is too late to repent. The moment to change and amend their ways has come, and has passed. Life is very short. God presents each of us with a window of opportunity to come to a place of repentance, and then it’s gone.
Contrary to what anyone may believe, life is not going to end the way that you might think it’s going to end. This is why we need to take one day at a time, and make sure that our souls are prepared to meet our precious Lord Jesus at any given moment. Now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
When we look at the word “now” it has numerous synonyms such as, immediately, promptly, instantly, right away, or urgently. To do something right now, means that it should not be put off until a later time. You might tell your child that they need to come and sit down at the supper table right now, as dinner is served. If they don’t sit down, they are going to miss supper. Matters regarding our eternal salvation need to be taken care of right now. The time for repentance is not tomorrow or next week, it is today.
Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Hebrews 3:7, 13, 15 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
The Kingdom of heaven is at hand, and repentance cannot wait.
Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Romans 13:11-12 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.
The following passage is an example of people who put things off and didn’t seize the opportunity to prepare themselves beforehand. When the moment came upon them suddenly, their souls were not prepared at all
Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Remember our study verse for today.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Today is the day to seek God. Today is the day to turn from sin and repent. You are going to have to make a choice right now. Are you going to allow the moment to pass you by, or will you take advantage of God’s….
….. Window of Opportunity
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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