“Today if you will hear His voice,…” “…in the day of salvation have I helped you…behold, now is the day of salvation.” Hebrews 3:7, 2 Corinthians 6:2
Dear Ones:
How important is “today?” What makes it important? And why can we say that “today,” thus far, is the most important day of our lives? The question of a day’s importance has its origin and essence in the God who created it. A day is a span of time, and in that time God is always working, always moving…specifically in the hearts and lives of men, women, and children. The first thing we need to understand is that God SPEAKS in the day. He speaks to the heart and mind in particular, and this in order to gain willing access to the life and soul of the individual. Can we calculate the value of such an act of God, that He would seek and save TODAY the souls of men? Secondly, we need to grasp that this span of time of the day, is one of opportunity, not so much with regard to what we can accomplish, but with respect to what God WILL accomplish in and through us. He calls it a “day of salvation.” He is speaking most certainly of being saved from the wrath to come, from the power of sin, self, the world, and the devil, but also, saved UNTO new life, and a new means by which to live. It is a salvation which has a specific point of beginning, but one which continues every day of our existence, a new beginning every day by virtue of the fact that His mercies NEW every morning. The third thing we need to see with regard to this day, and its importance, is its imminence. What does this mean? The usefulness and fruitfulness of this day is only as effective as the attention given to the present moment. Imminence implies immediate presence, action, and availability. As the day is broken down into hours, minutes, and seconds, so we must realize that God’s presence, availability, and willingness to work, is a moment by moment proposition. The man or woman, boy or girl, who has come to grips with the importance of time, this day, who is seeking God, looking to Him to speak through His word, and willing to respond to His voice, is one who will use well the “day of salvation,” for God WILL work in and through the life.
If we look at Elijah before he was taken up into heaven, we find that his “day” was spent walking with God. He would say to Elisha, who was to succeed him, “Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel.” Elijah was “…in the affairs (business)” of his heavenly Father. Moses, just prior to passing the mantle to Joshua his successor, is found on mount Nebo, where the Lord shows him all the land of Gilead. It is there that God reiterates to him His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What is the worth of that day? It is found in the One who is worthy, communing with Moses. There is no greater worth to the human heart and soul, than to have fellowship with our Creator and Redeemer. Lastly, we see the Apostle Paul. He has instructed the Ephesian church to “redeem the time,” to “…be filled with the Spirit.” He then passes the mantle to Timothy, as Paul will soon go to be with the Lord. How is Paul using this “day of salvation?” He is giving to Timothy a charge: “I charge thee, therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, …preach the word: be diligent in season, and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:1,2) He is addressing to Timothy a challenge, and responsibility, BEFORE GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to be accomplished and realized in the present moment. The call is one to be ready and using well this day…this day of salvation.
Dear Father, give us grace to use well this day, first to hear Thy voice, and then to serve Thee by the Spirit. Make the rough places smooth, and the crooked places straight…blessing us as we run this race this day for Thy glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad