“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 6:2).
Introduction
If it were not for the sacrifice of Christ on the cross none of us would be here to thank God for salvation. It was on the cross that God revealed His immense love for those He created. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) … “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Therefore it is at the foot of the cross sinners find salvation. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
People, especially those starting out in life, think that they can delay turning to God until they reach the end of their lives. As the farmer only has a small window of opportunity to bring in his harvest, so God allows every man and woman the opportunity to come to Christ. A day will come, and not always at death, when there is no further chance to be saved. “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3) … “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).
Let us look at two windows of opportunity the unsaved have to repent and turn to the Lord.
Window 1: Youth
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7).
Solomon boldly informs us that it is a waste of life to live without God until your deathbed. The young do not think that death is close by, so do not feel the need of Christ as their Saviour. They are healthy and able bodied, so death wont take them today. “Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die” (Isaiah 22:13). Salvation and death are for tomorrow! The unsaved dead curse themselves for not coming to the Lord while they lived, and the saved dead wish they had come sooner. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
Window 2: Conviction
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).
How few are concerned about facing the Holy God! “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27) … “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). They live as though there is no God and no consequences for sin. Others hope that their good deeds will outweigh the bad ones. They are so flippant that they think that God overlooks their sin. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). They hear the Good News, but continue to reject it or put off dealing with the conviction until another day, but another day might not come for them. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).
What about us who are saved? Are we concerned enough to tell them the truth? Their window of opportunity is ours too. “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).
Conclusion
God uses various means to bring sinners to conviction so that they might flee from “the wrath to come” to the foot of the cross (Luke 3:7). He can use sickness, catastrophe and fear, but He would rather them come to Christ in response to the preaching of His word. It is our responsibility to take this window of opportunity and tell the lost about Christ. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12) … “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
Though those who refuse to come to the Lord will be judged for their sin, we will be judged for not using the opportunities God has given us to warn them. “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:18).
© 26/2/2008