As Good a Time as Any!
Sunday, 27 December 2009 05:00
The phrase almost seems passé. In many ways it seems careless and flippant, rather than careful and planned. In some ways, it is almost too casual a phrase for what I am about to suggest. Nevertheless, with the New Year just days away, is it not as good a time as any to evaluate the condition of your soul and then do something about it?
It is high time many sleepwalking Christians awake from their lethargic slumber and get about the Lord’s business! “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). Has the spiritual funk you are in rendered you fruitless in things eternally important (Prov. 6:4-11)? Are you leading souls to the Savior (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16)? Are you maintaining and abounding in good works (1 Cor. 15:58; Tit. 3:14)? Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18)? Perhaps it is as good a time as any for you to get to back to work!
There are many who have known for a long time what they must do to begin their walk with Christ. They have sipped from the well of salvation—God’s word. They know what it is the Lord wants of them. They know what it is they need from the Lord. Yet, for one relatively ridiculous reason or another, they choose not to drink deeply and demonstrate their faith in God by obedience to His word (Rom. 10:17; 6:17; 2:8; 2 Thess. 1:8). “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). Perhaps it is as good a time as any to do more than just hear the word, but to act on it (Jas. 1:22-25; 2:14-26)!
One thing is certain, God’s longsuffering will not endure forever (2 Pet. 2:9ff). Indeed, now is as good a time as any to avail yourself of His grace and mercy.