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            Our lives are controlled by time—from when we arise in the morning, to when we retire for the night. We often say: Time goes by so quickly; Summer went by like a flash; It seems there is not enough time to do what I want to do; Before you know it, a New Year will be upon us, and we will be planning summer vacations; Look at the time; you better get ready!

            Our life is controlled by the clock, but a day will come when Time will End, and the Lord will return. We must be aware of the time—that it is high time to give more attention to our spiritual life and spending wisely, the time we have for things of spiritual value—for ourselves, for the family, and for the children. We must use the time we have in this life, to allow God to prepare us for the next.

            Romans 13:11 “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” The hour is late—no one can afford to let the affairs of this world to take too much of their time and attention. 

            Today’s world has more distractions and more enticements than ever—we must be that much more aware of Satan’s many and various schemes to distract and entice. It is all too easy to fall in love with something of this world; but we are told 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” It is a constant awareness to not allow something or someone to take us out of God’s will.

            The love of money is dominant today—it controls the actions and intentions of just about everyone in the world—and Satan uses that love for money to sidetrack believers off the path of humility and faith in Christ. 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

            It was once said: We should be living as if Jesus died on the Cross yesterday; rose from the tomb this morning; and is coming back this afternoon. It does make us think about how quickly time has sped by, and that we do not have all the time in the world for God to prepare us for His kingdom.

            Everything of this world passes away—if some interest or some activity has no spiritual or eternal value, it will end up being a waste of our time—everything of this world will eventually be burned up, destroyed, and left behind. We must be aware of the late hour and know that Jesus is ready to return Romans 13:11 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.”

            God is merciful and loving, so He gives time to repent, but a time will come—and only God knows—when this world reaches a point and its time will be up. God will then give the command to reap the harvest of the earth. Revelation 14:15 “Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

            In His goodness, God wants everyone to return to Him, but they have to choose to do that. The mercy of God allows wicked people and sinners to still be alive today—He is giving them time to repent, but at some point, time will end and they will not have that opportunity. Romans 2:4 “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

            Sin and wickedness are running rampant everywhere—people made in the image of God, but it seems no one cares. Many treat animals better than humans. Every soul matters to God, and every soul should matter to us. A shown lesson is so much better than a told lesson. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

            When there are only two minutes left in a basketball game, and the home team is down eight points, they quickly pick up the pace; they press; they intentionally foul to slow the clock; and they shoot three pointers. Time will end—it is running short on earth for so many. As an individual believer, we must pick up the pace while we still have time, and be sure that we are in God’s will. 

            Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” James 4:14 “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” At some point, Jesus will return, and everyone on earth will pass on into eternity—the time to be prepared for that day, is today!

            If we knew on Thursday that a tsunami would hit on Friday, we would prepare, and would warn others of impending danger. In Japan, there are stones on a hillside warning people not to build homes below a certain line, as tsunamis have come through before and destroyed everything below that point. One town had no loss of life in the 2011 tsunami—because they heeded the warning.

            Life goes by so quickly—Jesus said Mark 13:33 “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

            If we heed the warnings on earth, then we should also heed the warnings from Heaven. In Japan, when the tsunami was coming, the sirens were sounding—warning of approaching disaster—those who heeded and took action were saved. It will always be our choice what we do with the warning. Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

            All believers and non-believers in the world today, are living eternal beings. When time ends and God gives the command, all people on earth will be alive and worshipping before the throne of God forever and ever, or they will be suffering in Hell for all eternity. 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

            The thief on the cross came down to his last breath—but he made a right choice and was promised an eternal paradise by the Savior Himself. All during His ministry on earth, Jesus sounded the warning of coming judgment, and of the need to make changes. Matthew 3:2 “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

            Jesus wanted everyone to hear the Truth about God—about His divine power to heal, protect, convert, supply, deliver, and save anyone of any nation—if they will heed the warning, believe His message, and trust in Him on earth. Because of the ministry of Jesus, there is a forgiven thief that knows more about eternity than many millions still on earth. Luke 23:43 “Today (Jesus told him) shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

            Keeping our faith and trust on the atonement sacrifice of Jesus, becomes ever more important as we see signs of the times, and the return of Christ coming ever nearer. Every day and every hour we must be Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

            We must not allow the devil to deceive us to put faith, or trust, or dependence on plans, devices, and substitutes of the world—instead of keeping our faith, trust, and dependence on the power of God. This faith in God becomes more important with every day that passes. 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

            All too many people spend all too much time on things that have no eternal significance. Time is scooting by so quickly that we should not waste our time on things that have zero eternal significance when the time comes and we stand before the throne of God. Everyone will be in eternity a whole lot longer than any time spend here on earth.

            The apostle Peter denied Jesus three times, but that was not the end of the story. He realized his mistake and Luke 22:62 “And wept bitterly.” He made changes and corrections and finished well for the Lord Jesus. The apostle Peter wrote many inspired verses that help us on the path of faith in Christ to this day.

            1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

            Someday, time will end—anything not connected to our eternal life, will be time wasted. We must be careful how we live, talk, decide, and treat people around us—always setting a right example for others—being spiritually wise—Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

            By the grace of God, let us focus on what will matter when time will end. Making a list of things going on in our life that have no eternal significance, would help us focus on things that do. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Loving others; forgiving everyone; and trusting God every day for everything—has always been good.