A man needed a plan, he needed direction. If he did not have that, he had nothing. A man, like a ship at sea, might change course many times in getting to an eventual destination, but he must always be going somewhere, not simply drifting.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Key-Lock Man)
“How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.”
–Hebrews 2:3 (NASB)
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A good friend of mine mentioned the urgency he heard preached in a sermon by David Wilkerson. I responded that I don’t think I ever heard or read anything by David Wilkerson where he thought it wasn’t urgent. He lived and preached in the urgency of the hour. He would not allow complacency to dwell in his life; in fact, how can it be allowed in the life of a Christian?
My thoughts then began to ponder the words of Jesus.
“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”
–John 9:4 (NASB)
Possibly several meanings could be derived from this. The first is that we must work during the day. There is no light at night, plus the night is for rest. The second is brought forth by Merrill C. Tenny, “Jesus worked under the shadow of the coming cross.” He had only a short time to fulfill His work on earth. The cross always loomed before Him, and once He was on that cross He would see and feel darkness cover and enter Him.
Life is short and we need to put away complacency and take thought of time before our time on earth has ended. Remember, the tension and fear that you felt when watching the Lord of the Rings when the “riders” were seeking the Ring? Darkness and gloom were beginning to spread. Look at the news, if you dare, darkness and gloom are beginning to cover the earth. Never has there been a time such as this. The night is coming.
Notice the first three words, “we must work.” Now is the day of salvation. Work before it is too late. William Barclay writes, “The Christian’s duty is to fill the time he has–and no man knows how much that will be–with the service of God and of his fellow-man. There is no more poignant sorrow than the tragic discovery that it is too late to do something which he might have done.” Don’t be caught in the darkness of it is too late to repent. Do it now before the darkness is allowed to overtake the earth. Do it now before the day of His glorious appearing.
There is no doubt about it, after the Lord comes for those sealed by the Holy Spirit darkness will cover the earth. Afraid of the coronavirus, there will be outbreaks of pestilence that the world has never seen before. The man of lawlessness will rule the earth and all manner of evil will run amuck.
“Night is coming,” work while it is light. Grow in grace, use the time wisely, seek the will of the Lord in all you do. Be sensible, be sober, be alert. “The one thing vital is that you persist. The one great treachery is to despair.” (George H. Morrison)