I have about a 40 minute commute to work each day which gives me an opportunity to listen to some of my favorite preachers. Even though I’m a musician, and I love to listen to music, I have such a desire for the Word of God, it is my preference of Spiritual encouragement in the car. Earlier this week I was doing just that and heard these words ring out from a preacher “Who told You that You have a When!?” Over and over I’ve heard them ring out in my mind this week. Even as I write these words there’s a large bell on college campus chiming out the time as if to say, “You’re not guaranteed another chime, who told you that you had a when?”
We’ve all likely heard it and said it.
“When I grow up I’ll serve in the church.”
“When I get out of debt I’m going to give to the Lord’s work.”
“When I get my life right I’m going to get in church and get saved.”
“When my kids grow up I’ll serve the Lord.”
Well… who told you that you had a when? 2 Corinthians 6:2 says “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” We’re not guaranteed another second of breath. This message is for me as much as anyone. I can get so wrapped up in the trivial things of the day and at day’s end discover I’ve done nothing of eternal importance. I realize that there are some things that must get accomplished, dishes done, laundry folded, phones answered, documents written, websites updated… these things are needful. But at some point in my twenty four hour period what did I do for God? Did I introduce anyone to His goodness and faithfulness? Did I offer hope when I had the chance or a piece of bread or drink of water in His Name? Who told me I had a when?
Something else I do as I travel along is talk to God. Not nearly as in depth as I should. Sometimes it’s no more than my West Virginia traveler’s prayer “Dear God, I am Yours and the deer are Yours, please don’t let us meet!” But this morning I began to pray again that God would break my heart for souls. I prayed for my husband, children and grandchildren that God would move in their lives and prick their souls where it was needed to remind them they too are not guaranteed a “when.” I prayed for my siblings, nieces and nephews and their children, I prayed for the teens in my ministry, I prayed for my Pastor, I stood in the gap for as many as I could in that short drive, but that’s only the beginning of my day. If God allows I still have several hours to go… What will I do for Him that will survive when tried by the fires of eternity?
Right now I have business tasks at hand… but I’m watchin’. I’m believing that God is going to open a door for me today that I can glean some fruit! What about you? Perhaps you don’t even know where you’d spend eternity if your “when” was now, and your time was over. Don’t ride on chance, there are many souls in Hell separated for eternity from the people they love because they were sure they had more time.
Here’s the “how”…
A – Admit you’re a sinner who owes a penalty for sin. Everyone is. (Romans 3:23) and then…
B – Believe that Christ died to pay that penalty. He was the only worthy sacrifice that could be made. Through His holiness and righteousness you are given the gift of eternal life in Heaven (Romans 6:23) if you…
C – Confess, meaning to agree with the Word of God, that Jesus died on that cross, rose again the third day and is now your intercessor in Heaven. (Romans 10:9, 10) and then…
D – Decide, Heaven or Hell. It’s that simple, because, you’re not guaranteed a when.