At Walmart, in the town where I live, they have installed a large blue bulletin board in view of the customers who pass through the checkout counters. The title of the bulletin board is written in large letters and reads, “EVERY SECOND COUNTS.” What does this title mean? Below it are black and white photos of faces of children who have gone missing, along with their bios.
Every second counts for these children because they are no longer under the protection of those who love them, and they are at high risk of having their lives destroyed by unscrupulous men and women who would take advantage of them. Every second counts because the lives of these children are at risk.
I hope that every one of these children who have been lost are recovered and are returned safely to their homes. I can’t imagine anything more devastating in life than losing a child like that.
Another Way To Be Lost
However, there is another sense where people may be lost. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)).
It is horrible when children are lost from their families, but it is even more horrible when we turn to our own way and become lost to God due to sin. There is an eternity of darkness and suffering for those who remain in their sins. To make a way for people to be recovered, the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life at Calvary. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Through faith in His name, people who have wandered away from Him can return and receive the forgiveness of sins, and they can know they have a home waiting for them in heaven.
God doesn’t need a bulletin board with faces on it to remind Him of who is lost. He carries the knowledge of each person in His heart. He earnestly desires the salvation of every one. “The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Even at this moment He is reaching out to sinners through His Spirit to bring them back to Himself. Nor does He need to remind Himself that “EVERY SECOND COUNTS.” He knows that perfectly. We are the ones that need to learn and to be reminded that “EVERY SECOND COUNTS.” Here are a few reasons why this is true.
Reasons That “EVERY SECOND COUNTS”
Every second counts because we all must die. It is estimated that every second, 1.8 people die in this world. Many of them don’t know the love of the Savior and pass into the darkness of hell. Every second that passes with you remaining in your sins increases the risk that you too will be lost forever. Every second counts because we are at risk of losing our never dying souls.
Every second counts because of love. In the greatest act of love the world has ever known, the Lord Jesus gave His life for sinners. Why? For the simple reason that He loves men and women and wants them to love Him in return. He wants them to live, not in a state of hostility and as enemies, but in friendship with Himself. He wants them to “abide in love.” He desires them to live in love while on earth, and when this life is over to bring them to His eternal home of love in heaven. For those in love, every second is altogether precious.
Every second counts because of hate. Those who have wandered away from God are under the power of Satan, the leader of the fallen angels. These fallen angels hate God and hate all that God loves. As lost children often come under the power of unscrupulous people, so men and women who are lost in sin come under the power of Satan, who hates them and continually seeks their harm. Only through repentance and faith in Christ can you escape Satan’s power and come to know God’s love. Don’t put off coming to Christ, because if you do, you will waste the precious seconds of your life apart from His influence.
Every second counts because once this life is over and you enter eternity, it will be forever too late to change. Those who die in their sins will forever remain in a state of hatred to God. They will pass from this world into a lost eternity. Those who die having been reconciled to God will remain forever in a state of love to God. In heaven this love will bring them unspeakable joy.
With so much to lose and so much to gain, every second counts. Come to Christ by faith, so that for every second from henceforth and forever you may live for the One who gave His life for you.
How to avoid the greatest danger can be found in Our Dangerous World.