‘TIME’S UP!’ is a phrase that most, if not all, of us have heard at some time or another. Once heard, it can instill either a sense of relief or panic within us. It indicates that the allotted time for something, e.g. an examination, has run out; therefore, there is no going back!
The Bible has a great deal to say about time. Solomon, one of the kings of Israel, reminds us: ‘To everything there is a season, a TIME for every purpose under heaven: a TIME TO BE BORN and a TIME TO DIE . . . a TIME to love and a TIME to hate; a TIME of war, and a TIME of peace’, Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1-2, 8. Whatever the length of TIME God has given to each one of us, we are encouraged ‘to redeem the TIME, because the days are evil’, Ephesians chapter 5 verse 16.
We must learn that God has given us TIME to prepare for eternity. God says, ‘Behold NOW is the ACCEPTED TIME, behold, NOW is the DAY OF SALVATION’, 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2. Although our time on earth is short, there is an eternity beyond for which to prepare. The consequences will be serious, indeed, if we leave it TOO LATE to prepare! The urgent need to be READY IN TIME for our eternal destiny is expressed by the chorus of a hymn we quoted in one of our previous meditations:
BE IN TIME! BE IN TIME!
While the voice of Jesus calls you, BE IN TIME!
If in sin you longer wait, you may find no open gate,
and your cry will be TOO LATE,
BE IN TIME!
If you have not already done so, turn in repentance toward God and put your faith in Jesus Christ, who died to save you from your sin. He stepped out of eternity into time, to make it possible for each one of us, one day, to step out of time into eternity!