Bible Ballistics: BBs #627     Don’t Wait???

 

I have a brief word for us all today, and I think by the title you can guess it might be about ‘time’.  And that is partly true, but mostly it’s about the danger of procrastination; especially spiritual procrastination.

“We then,

as workers together with him,

beseech you also

that ye receive not the grace of God

in vain.

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.)”. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Paul was calling the Corinthians to be sure that they had a real relationship with God, and even goes on in this same letter to call them to be sure of their own relationship with God!

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?

6 But I trust that ye shall know that we

are not reprobates.”  2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans—if we belong to Jesus, we will have HIS indwelling Holy Spirit within us, confirming that we really belong to Jesus!  As I’m often heard to say, “Sayin’ so doesn’t make it so!”  Jesus said so concisely that “by their fruits” you shall know them.  What are our fruits revealing!  Is the Holy Spirit in you/me, or the spirit of the world?

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man

have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

Paul had an encounter with a public official who was interested in the truth of Jesus, but “not quite yet”!  What are you doing with Jesus?  Have you given your heart and life to Him, repenting of your sin and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “your” sin?  I pray that you won’t put Jesus off—for tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us!

“For the king knoweth of these things,

before whom also I speak freely:

for I am persuaded that none of these things

are hidden from him;

for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?

I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God,

that not only thou,

but also all that hear me this day,

were both almost,

and altogether

such as I am,

except these bonds.”  Acts 26:16-29

And sometime before this encounter Paul received a similar response from another official.

“And after certain days,

when Felix came with his wife Drusilla,

which was a Jewess,

he sent for Paul,

and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned

of righteousness,

temperance,

and judgment to come,

Felix trembled,

and answered,

Go thy way for this time;

when I have a convenient season,

I will call for thee.”   Acts 24:24-25

With all this political juxta positioning, as far as we know, neither Felix nor Festus came to faith in Jesus—they passed up their opportunity to come to Jesus!  What will you do with Jesus?  While I’m no Paul, I do try to share Jesus and His truth at every opportunity, and I’m calling you to “consider your ways”!  Don’t be one who is “Almost Persuaded” and misses Jesus by putting off till tomorrow, that which you may not have another opportunity to do! I pray that you will hear His voice calling to you and open the door to HIM today!  Please don’t wait!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!