You and I are living on borrowed time. Time will not always be. What we are going to do about God and for God, we had better do it quickly. Don't put off another day concerning the things of God.
I. Time Will Cease Some Day 2 Peter 3:8-10 (HCSB) 8 Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: with the Lord one day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years like one day.
9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that [day] the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
A. God is not on a timetable, we are. Time is for man to do what he's going to do. Whether a man will receive God's Son as his Savior before he dies or before the Lord returns. Also to see if man will serve God and live for Him or not. God allows time for man to deal with his eternal destiny. God always has eternity in view, so the choices we make have eternal consequences.
II. Man Possesses Time To Make His Choices Only While He Lives 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT)
1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
A. We must use our time rightly to gain heaven while we live. At death it will be to late.
If you have never confessed your sins to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you of those sins, this scripture says that you should do that right now. It is not wise to wait. You may not be alive tomorrow. Read the plan of salvation at the bottom of this page and do what it says so you will spend eternity with God in heaven.
B. Often we borrow God's time.
1. Once we are saved we must make sure we do not yield to Satan on God's time. When God saves you your time belongs to God. Jesus bought you with His precious blood. He saved you from Satan's grip on your life. He delivered you from hell. Now its time to let God help us get rid us of those wrong sinful things in our lives. We should spend our time producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit who now resides in us. Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT) 22 The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
2. We must not take God's time to make provisions for the flesh. We must not let the cares and riches of this world control God's time in our lives. God will take care of us. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Romans 12:21 (NKJV) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is what we must be spending our time to do.
C. God Says To Redeem The Time Ephesians 5:16-18 (NKJV) 16 redeem the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.
This scripture says to "buy up the opportunity" to give our time to God. We must walk in wisdom and understanding of God's will for our lives.
1. To walk wise is to walk with God each day.
2. It is wise to invest your time to help save souls. (Proverbs 11:30, Daniel 12:13)
3. It is wise to keep God's commands for our lives. It is wise to spend time in His house. (Hebrews 11:25)
IV. Many will say at judgment "I didn't have time." Common excuse today.
1. God will ask why?
At the judgment we will have all the time we need but it will be to late.
2. What will we answer? "I borrowed your time for myself and the devil." How sad. Don't let that be you.
3. We all have the same amount of time to use. If we waste it in sinful pleasures we are foolish, thereby damning our souls.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NKJV) 7 The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.
How are you using God's time? He is giving you time right now to make a decision to repent of wasting your time in sin and then ask His Son Jesus to forgive you of your sins against Him so He can save you from hell.
If you have never done that, God is giving you time right now to do it. Be wise and say yes before your time runs out. Read scriptures at the bottom of this page and then take action now!
If you have been saved, how are you using God's time? Are you found in His house worshipping Him and praising Him for all He has done? Are you serving Him in any way and are you telling anyone about how wonderful He is and how He wants to save them also?
