Time Is Short

From: Echoes of Grace: 1992

• 1 min. read • grade level: 4

The time is short! (1 Corinthians 7:29²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; (1 Corinthians 7:29).)

How short? Have you the answer? No, man does not have the answer to that question. God alone controls time, and our times are in His hands. That is the only possible answer. That is why the Word of God so urgently states the great truth that now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).)

That is why God invites: Come now, and let us reason together. (Isaiah 1:18¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).) That is why the Holy Spirit pleads and warns, To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 3:15¹⁵While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:15).) Oh, the time is short!

How short? Who knows? Who can tell? Not you - not I. But we can be sure of one fact: TIME is shorter than we think. What God calls “short” cannot be made “long”. No man can stretch out his appointed life span, and it is disastrous to attempt to evade the final issue.

TIME IS SHORT! It is shorter than you realize. It is too short to be wasted in sin and wickedness. But it is just long enough for your soul to turn in repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21²¹Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21).)

It is just long enough to say “Yes” to Jesus and to enter into the happiness that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).) Time and life are far, far too short for anything less than that.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).) v

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