Do You Know the Time?

Do You Know the Time?

by David Brenneman 

"Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.  The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Romans 13:11-14.

While Paul wrote this a few thousand years ago, it's extremely relevant to today.  We also read in the Bible where Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour but the Father alone.  Jesus taught many parables on being ready for we do not know the hour of our reckoning. 

Yesterday, we went to yet another viewing.  A friend and coworker passed unexpectedly last Tuesday.  He didn't know the hour of his home going anymore than you know yours.

The inevitable deep thoughts about our mortality revolve around funerals.   We wonder what these who have passed on are experiencing now.  We wonder at what will become of us.  How we will survive their absence. 

My thoughts on this might be clear to me, but perhaps they aren't to you.  My Dear Reader, indeed all Creation cries out that there is an intelligent designer behind everything.  A Creator.  Denial of such is never going to salve the conscience of any over time. 

Yesterday I saw many people with the hope of the resurrection in mind concerning my friend.  I also saw people lost without hope, lost in thoughts that don't need to be so complicated if they too knew what my friend knew.  

Jesus said that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.  To that end, realize it will be everyone, after death has been dealt it's final blows.  To the Believer its nothing to fear for we gladly will bow and acknowledge our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We know that truth and its set us free.  For those who are alive who haven't yet come to Christ for salvation...that burden...that weight is immense. 

I can never imagine the weight of uncertainty that someone who hasn't come to the knowledge of the truth of God in Christ. 

I can never know that pain of worrying about what happens one second after you die. 

I can never know what might be crossing their minds when they can't figure out that moment in time. 

I can't because the promises of God in Christ Jesus took all that away!

Paul wrote that we do not mourn as those who have no hope.  We know that only their address has changed.  They now reside in Heaven with Jesus.  

The truth of God concerning the next moment in time for those who have rejected the truth of God in Christ Jesus for salvation...is they will find themselves in painful torment in Hell.  One second after a person dies...their eternal future is sealed. 

The Bible teaches us to make the most of every opportunity, every opportunity.  To set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

This world is perishing.  It's dying.  The curse of God upon it because of Adam's sin is coming to its conclusion. 

My friend is in Heaven.  Probably being introduced to all the family he knew would be there.

My relatives who have gone on before who also died as Believers likewise have done the same.

These people are also being introduced to all the lives they impacted for Christ.  All the others whom are now sons and daughters of God. 

We have this hope because of the promises of God.  We have this hope that is real.  

That hope is available to everyone who believes.  Salvation in Jesus Christ is free.  There's no strings attached, although it is a limited time offer.  Those same Angels who proclaimed His birth, proclaimed that He would return again.  The early Church's were taught this and told He would return.  That He would receive to Himself all who have first died in Christ and then all those who are alive and remain. Currently those who have died in Christ are separated from their earthly bodies.  When Jesus returns those bodies will be rebuilt.  Whole, rejuvenated, perfect.  No curse of sin to be found. No diseases. No cancer. No missing limbs.  To mental disability.  No results of addictions.  Perfect and whole as Jesus.

This promise is for all who believe in God's promise of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. 

I rejoice at the thought of where friends and family are who died as Believers. 

I grieve for those who died without Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Do you know the time? 

Are you sure of your new address when you die?

Do you realize that you do not have a say in when that address is going to change?

"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning." Psalms 22:1.

While this is directly related to Jesus when He was on the cross...I believe it's probably the first cries of all who enter into Hell. 

Psalms 22 depicts even to the comments of those there at the time of His crucifixion the details of His death...hundreds of years earlier. 

What about you?

I have often quoted Romans 10:8-13. But my Dear Reader, read what follows it.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;  for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?  How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”  However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Romans 10:8-18

I know in whom I have believed and know that He is able to bring me safely to His Heaven...all because of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that the cross of Jesus Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing.  It doesn't have to be that way for you.

If indeed you are saved...are you truly living it out?  

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.