Pray more.

 

'Have you heard what's happening in the religious world?'

'Oh yes. That's serious. But have you heard about that new threat of war?'

'I know it. This old world can't last much longer....'

And we all nod our heads in solemn agreement. 

'We might only have 6 more months!'

'Oh yes. Jesus is coming so soon!'

And I hold on to my darling sins...

And my neighbor still has no idea that a Savior exists...

What in the world is going on?

I've been a spokesman in conversations just like that. Am I so blind, that the words I speak have no effect on me?

 Have I so utterly and completely lost my sensibilities, that I can't even bring to reason such talk?

As a Christian, do I really believe such things are true?

If I do, then what am I doing about it?

There is a question that I must ask myself. Often.

'If I knew that Christ would come in a few months, would I do anything different?'

It goes farther.

'Would I seek a closer walk with Him?'

'Would I work harder, with a fervent, maybe desperate effort, for the salvation of lost souls?' 

'Maybe even spend whole nights in prayer?'

Oh Lord, help us.

He didn't say that the day would come as a thief, because He enjoyed telling stories. He didn't say the very elect would be targeted unless He meant it.

He didn't spend whole nights in prayer, pleading for mercy and strength for us, because He had nothing else to do...

How could we ever think that any less would be required of us?

Friends, if I believe those words of awesome solemnity, that Christ truly is coming soon, and do nothing different than I've ever done, I am a hypocrite of hypocrites. And I confess, often, I have been just that.

There's no time for this anymore.

As a brother in Christ put it recently, let's fall flat on our faces and seek the Lord. If this business of being a Christian is worth it, (and believe me, it is), we will have to put every idol on His altar. We will have to give Him every fiber of our being. And it will require an infinite amount more than solemn nods of the head, and serious words.

It will demand action.

Oh, please, join me in seeking the Lord, while He yet may be found...

"We must enter upon the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less."   --1SM 122