Light and Time

  

• “Pay me now, or pay me later” 
• Confess now … or be confessed later
• Try now … or die later
• Love now … or be destroyed
• Die now … or die later
• Be humble now, or be humiliated later

There’s a terrible day coming, it’s the Day of the Lord.  Many will approach that day with confidence, and most will live right up to the day in ignorance.  Our Lord said this day would be like the Day of Noah: 

“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they didn't understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:37-39

Some think everything will be okay, but will be shocked to be the one who looks into the face of eternity and hears the 7 horrible words, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”  (Matt 7.23)

There are those who are pure in their own eyes yet are not cleansed of their filthiness.Proverbs 30:12

We live between now and that inevitable day – once it’s here, the day will provoke the strongest men to break down in terrifying fear and dread.  They will realize in that moment that they are facing God, that He knows everything they've ever done, and He is about to decide their eternal destiny. 

There will be no masks on judgment day … no dark clothes or vertical stripes will cover up the fat people.  There will be no place of darkness or shadow, for God’s light will be so bright that it will reveal everything. 

The weird things you've done will be revealed.  The most shameful thing you've done – it will be announced on the broadcast, so that everyone will know. 

Perspective & Urgency

Most of the world will read a message like this and be turned off, because they are only capable of seeing this as a message of judgment against themselves.  But a true disciple of Jesus will see it differently. We know that as long as we walk in the light and work to correct our sins, we’re forgiven.  We are the people who have hope!  Praise Him! 

The concern for a disciple of Jesus isn’t for ourselves, it’s for those around us.  Who will reach them with the message of hope, and when? 

Jesus said:

“We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”
John 9:4

As long as we are alive, we are the lights in the world, and we must work while we can.  The message of hope is better than any other, yet it is a message of repentance.  We need to get our friends, family and acquaintances to act now while there’s still time.  Not just for their sake, but for the sake of those they will influence. 

Remember the story of the Rich Man & Lazarus from Luke 16?  It was too late for that man to warn his family, and now all was lost.  Repeatedly Jesus said to “be ready,” and Paul wrote these words: 

Now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper, & arise from the dead, & Christ will shine on you.”
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 
Ephesians 5:7-16

“Make the most of your time, because the days are evil,” Paul wrote then, and it’s still true today.  Make the most of your time, because it is short, and your friends who aren't living like true, committed disciples are in grave danger.  And among those who may be saved, they aren’t living with this sense of urgency for their friends, family & neighbors. 

What about you?  Do you have a sense of urgency about our Lord’s Day?  Will you rescue your neighbor, or will you be too consumed with the concerns of this world? 

Let your light shine while you can, for the day is coming when it will be too late.