For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.6.2.NLT
The Word of God is focused on what some call “living for today”. And that idea, that concept is that we should be awake and aware of our ability (even our responsibility) to make the most out of THIS moment, this “now”. And if that is our perspective and we are believing and following “now” in each step we take, as an awake and alive person being led by the Holy Spirit – it is then that we can know that we are tapped into the vine of life.
The point isn’t to think heavily upon the things of yesterday, because those might lead us into either guilt and shame over our failures or into pride over our successes. Nor is the point to think too heavily about the future, because that might lead us into anxiety or stress. By remembering the price that Christ paid upon the cross for us and believing now, we will follow Him, He will be our way and our example and our teacher and our guide.
The point isn’t too ask ourselves if we “once upon a time” received Christ into our lives. Nor is the point to hold off for the future saying “as long as I ask forgiveness before my last breath”. No, those attitudes can be an example of someone who is acquainted with the words of religion but who has no relationship with the Word of God.
Don’t you know that Jesus Christ is the Word of God come in the flesh to die on the cross and be raised to life? Don’t you know that those He loves have the Word of God written on their hearts? Don’t you know that He sends the Holy Spirit, that same power that raised Christ from the dead to live in you, Christian? Don’t you know that Holy Spirit is our Helper, guide, teacher, comforter, and even our disciplinarian?
So for us who say we follow Christ, today is the time for salvation, now is the opportunity to demonstrate “His Kingdom come, His will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven”. The “right time” for us to walk as Christians in His righteousness is NOW.
And isn’t that the choice of all choices? Whether we will remain awake and conscious and alive and participate in God’s will for our “now”, or whether we would rather sleep in the arms of the enemy, letting our old nature that is focused on self and the pleasures and comforts and sinful things of this world rule or lives – it is our choice.
Do you want to be alive? Even if that requires the focus and attention, yes, even the work and sacrifice of being a true follower of Christ today, now?
I pray that you will not be satisfied slumbering now, awaiting destruction, relying on either your past or your future to prove you a faithful servant of the Lord. I encourage you to instead set your eyes upon Christ now, and see salvation played out in the fruitful life of a humble servant today, now.
Harold J. Ballinger 