NOW IS THE TIME

by Brad Green

 

Though many have heard and have uttered the adage, "there's no time like the present," there's no time that is more neglected than the "now."

The Bible teaches that we should be redeemers of time (Ephesians 5: 16; Colossians 4:5).  Time cannot be placed on "lay -away" and does not offer "rain checks."  If time is to be used, it must be used as it happens.  Each moment that passes is one of history that can never be redeemed or used again.  It is this fact that should urge us to be excited about right now. Now is the time.

 

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION, NOT COMPLACENCY

 

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil” (Zephaniah 1:12).  Those who settle "on their lees" are they who have become satisfied and comfortable with their current condition though there is work left undone.  The "lees" are the dregs or refuse of freshly squeezed grape juice.  If the lees are left, the juice will ruin.  The dregs are to be filtered out.  Many today stop working or "sit on their hands," once they arrive at a comfortable place.  They know and teach that God requires us to labor in His vineyard, but by their inaction, their heart is exposed as being far from God.  There is much work in the Lord's Kingdom for us to do. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23).

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY

 

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO REACH THE LOST

 

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO STRIVE TO RECOVER THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE FALLEN AWAY

 

"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).  God is longsuffering (1 Peter 3:20) and has blessed us with today.  We must fol­low God's pattern to retrieve those who have left the faith now, while we have time, so that they can return to God and be saved in the end.

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAITHFUL BRETHREN IN CHRIST

 

Fellowship is important and we should cherish the time we spend together.  The more time we spend with each other, the stronger the relationships will become.  It can be easy to fall into complacency in regard to fellowship.  While developing strong relationships with some brethren in the congregation, other relationships are slighted or never even developed.  This must not be. "We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).  We must strive to ensure that all members know one another, care for one another, and know that each cares for the other.

 

NOW IS THE TIME BECAUSE NOW IS ALLWE HAVE BEEN PROMISED

 

"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" (James 4:14).  Let us redeem the time with which we have been blessed and be as productive as we can in service to the Lord.