As I sit here writing I am, made aware of one inevitable event! In the background is the Tick! Tick! Tick! of a clock that signals seconds, minutes, hours, yea even days. Just think, each time that clock ticks another second is now history,, gone, never to be renewed, nor for that matter relived. The thought that weighs heavy on this Christian's mind is that found in the latter part of 2 Cor. 6:2: "behold, now is >the acceptable time,' Behold, now is >the day of salvation.'"

When one thinks on passing time, the uncertainty of life, the availability of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, "Behold; now is the day of salvation!", what could possibly be more important than obedience from the heart (Roms. 6:17,18)' that moves one to believe that Jesus is the Christ (Jn. 8:24); repent of his sins (Luke 13:3); and be buried with Christ in baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); in order that you might be a child of God (Gal. 3:26-27), a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17) in Christ, walking faithfully until death (Rev. 2:10)? Why do you wait? There is no reason for your delay except your own indecision concerning God's will. Tick! Tick! Tick! How long will you wait? How long do you have?

Tick! Tick! Tick! The time goes on and so do the thoughts. As Paul the apostle said, "apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:28). This Christian's thoughts are now in somewhat the same area. The cry has come from other places for help, and yet the local pressures hold one back. We pray, we encourage and perhaps one day we will have sufficient laborers, but now they are few. Tick! Tick! Tick! Another soul is drifting away from Christ. Tick! Tick! Tick! Another sermon or lesson did not reach.

Oh, if we could only get them to realize the dangers, our concern, their spiritual need for Christ, His will, and association with New Testament Christians in worship.

"O Lord, grant us wisdom to know what to say, and how to say it, that we through Thy word and will may reach a wandering soul and bring him back to thee. Realizing that time passes, even now grant us the will to teach, to warn, to rebuke; and to exhort, that Thy will may be supreme. May we trust in thee unreservedly as we carry Thy message of hope to sinners and Thy chart for wanderers that leads to Thee and home. In Jesus name. Amen."

Truth Magazine, XVIII:6, p. 5
December 6, 1973