Now or Never?

The other day while at work I was having a brief conversation with a coworker who was discussing his plans for the future.  Having had talked to him about the need for Salvation in the past, he finished stating what he was going to say and I interjected about how even if he got everything he wanted he would still be lost and doomed, what then would it matter?

 

Instead of simply brushing it off, he responded that he would take care of that later in life, not now.  Right now he was going to live his life.  Well what if there is not a later time?  What if that day was the day of Salvation for him?  What if he had chosen the world over Christ and an opportunity to accept the Savior through repentance and believing into Him never again became available?

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2

 

…”testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:26

 

The question is how many people go throughout life with the exact same philosophy.  They believe there is a God, they know that somehow they have to get right with Him, even if they don’t fully understand how or why, essentially if they have never heard the true Gospel message.  Yet they continue on in their sinful lives assuming one day they are going to yield to Him, even if on their deathbed.

 

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12

 

How does this logic fit in?  Those who have heard the true Gospel and refused to accept Christ will be lost forever and believe whatever lie will be propagated upon mankind during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).  So what happens if the Rapture occurs and these sorts of people are left behind?

Too Late

 

Now obviously someone could die in a car accident, of illness or a multitude of different ways, knowing that they have to yield to Christ, but refusing to do so at the moment.  What happens when death occurs before they accept the gift of Salvation?

Too Late

 

Salvation is not a matter that one should postpone or ignore until it seems to be convenient in their life.  More than not, that time will NEVER come for that person.  If God has been speaking to your heart, do not put off making a decision for Him.

 

“Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7