Time No Longer

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 5
God has told us in His Word that there is a time for every purpose and for every work (Ecc. 3:1). He further says that "now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 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). He lingers in patience, beseeching men to repent. He sends warning after warning by the solemn catastrophes which, for the moment, shock the mind; but too often they pass unheeded. "The Lord is... not willing that any should perish." 2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).
The day of grace—God's NOW—is still lengthened out. Again He sends a message of invitation, saying: "Yet there is room." Luke 14:2222And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. (Luke 14:22). The house is not yet filled; the door is not yet closed. God is still saying, "Come.”
But even as God has appointed a time for every work He has also "appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained." Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31). Solemn thought! When that day has come, when that hour has struck, there will be "time no longer." Rev. 10:66And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: (Revelation 10:6). No more delay, no more lingering in grace. No more an open door, no more room. NOW God offers eternal life and forgiveness to "whosoever will" on the ground of the work accomplished on the cross by His own beloved Son whose blood "cleanseth from all sin." THEN it will be too late. Now is the "accepted time." Then there will be "time no longer.”
"Soon that voice will cease its calling;
Now it speaks, and speaks to thee;
Sinner, heed the gracious message,
To the blood for refuge flee!
Take salvation—
Take it now and happy be.”