“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
As a child, I loved to play with my grandmother’s three-minute hourglass. I would watch the sand as it slowly fell to the bottom, only to turn it over and watch it all over again. It helped pass the time when Grandma was busy and allowed me time to think about things. I wondered about the person who filled the hourglass, like how long it took them to figure out the right amount of sand to make three minutes. As a young girl, that was mind-boggling to contemplate.
The Bible is filled with scripture about time. One of my favorite “time” scriptures is in Romans 13:11 (NIV) – “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Like the three-minute hourglass, God reminds us of our time left on Earth through scripture. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” – Mark 13:32-33 (NIV)
Time for some people may seem elusive and a difficult concept to grasp. As a young person, it may seem like you have all the time in the world, while as an older person, the realization is time is of the essence. It’s a reminder to prepare and be ready for His coming. It’s like a squirrel who hurriedly gathers nuts before winter sets in. He is doing what is necessary to survive. Like the squirrel who readies for winter, we need to prepare ourselves for our eternal home.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (NLT) says, “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.”
Whether young or old, we don’t know when our life on Earth will cease. It could be today, tomorrow, or fifty years from now. People make out wills and plan their funerals ahead of time, and yet they haven’t taken the steps necessary to have eternal life. Don’t wait.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I come to You today, asking You to show us, through Your Word, the importance of time. Show us the urgency of our salvation and not put off till tomorrow what we should do today. Thank You for Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Written by: Laurie Davis
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