SCRIPTURE
“…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2b (New International Version)
SPOTLIGHT
Did you hear about the atheist and the Christian who were best friends? The Christian longed for his unbelieving friend to personally know Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. He seized every opportunity and tried every approach he possibly could to share the Good News. One time he spoke about spending eternal life in heaven, or hell. In addition, he shared about God having a wonderful plan for everyone right now while living on earth. From his personal experience, he told his unbelieving friend about the unfailing friendship Jesus Christ, the living God gave him.
The atheist resisted time and again. Nothing seemed to move him. Unfortunately, he died. The Christian friend was asked to be responsible for getting a gravestone and writing an inscription on it. Bewildered at the task, he thought and thought. Finally, he had the stone cutter put these words under his atheist friend’s name… “He knows now.”
Perhaps you are smiling, or maybe you do not think that story is in any way humorous. The fact is that the story drives home a point. It answers a very important question; When should a person confess Jesus Christ as his/her Savior and Lord, and become a born-again Christian? The Bible is very clear! NOW IS THE TIME to get right with God. Paul wrote the Corinthian believers telling them that, “Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off.” [2 Corinthians 6:2b – Message.] There is no better time than right now to decide about the purpose and quality of your life here on earth and hereafter. This is the time to establish a personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. No one knows their time of death. Who knows what will happen to them in the next 24 hours. You cannot tell me how many minutes, hours, days, months, or years you have left here on earth. Life is so unpredictable.
Don’t postpone this decision if you have not yet made it. Nobody has a guarantee of waking up tomorrow. Now is the time to admit, believe, confess and decide. Admit you have sinned and are separated from God. Believe that Jesus Christ is the living God, Who died for your sin so that you might have abundant life here, and heavenly life in the hereafter. Confess in prayer to Jesus your need for His forgiveness. Decide to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord for the rest of your life.
Know Jesus Christ now so that you will not have to know what an unbeliever faces after death.
SOMETHING TO DO
Admit you are a sinner. [See 1 John 1:8].
Believe Jesus Christ is the living God Who died on the cross for your sins. [See John 1:12.]
Confess in a prayer to Jesus Christ your desire to be forgiven of your sin. [See 1 John 1:9.]
Decide to live your life to please Jesus. [See Luke 9:23.]
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I bow my head, which expresses that I bow my heart and my knees to You. I am so thankful that You are my Savior and Lord. Since I have committed my life to You, I have experienced a purpose and peace like never before. Thank you for changing my life. AMEN.