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"The Time is Short"
...another perspective
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Throughout the Bible, we see reference made to the time being short
before the return of Christ. For example...
And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened.
–Matthew 24:22
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; –2
Peter 3:10
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. –1 Thessalonians 5:2
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch
the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered
his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such
an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. –Matthew 24:42-44
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. –Revelation
16:15
These scriptures focus on the date Christ returns. We even read prophecy
that some will declare that our Lord delayeth His coming (Matthew
24:48). This is dangerous talk regardless of when Christ returns. Let me
introduce another way to view the phrase, "time is short."
Not forgetting the other perspective, add to it the idea that YOUR time
is short. Our life is all too brief. It is but a breath.
Our length of time in the Salvation Process is all too short and time
passes so quickly. Notice the scriptures...
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the
measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.–Psalm
39:4
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a
wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. –Psalm 78:39
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath:
we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years
are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be
fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon
cut off, and we fly away. –Psalm 90:9-10
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I
am withered like grass.
–Psalm 102:11
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow
that passeth away. –Psalm 144:4
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou
knowest not what a day may bring forth. –Proverbs 27:1
It is true, we do not know what today or tomorrow may bring. It is
appointed once to man to die. Think of all the firstfruits who
have died in the faith. The end of days for them was not the
return of Christ but their own death. This perspective gives us a
proper sense of urgency. Paul and others in his day truly believed
that Christ would return in their day. They had a sense of urgency
toward the Work and their own individual Salvation Process.
Not knowing when our end will really come, we need to be giving all
diligence to our Salvation Process for the "time truly is short"!
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