It Is Later Than You Think. (GLMX #485)
This is the “chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, with the Gospel Light Minute X Podcast #485 titled, “Enjoy Yourself. It Is Later Than You Think” I’m here to remind you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me.
This saying, found on a carved sign on display in a beautiful garden, is ascribed to the famous poet and author Robert W. Service.
ENJOY YOURSELF. IT IS LATER THAN YOU THINK.
Is it really later than we think? Time does rush by so quickly, and before we know it, it seems that our life has flown by, and we must now consider what we want to do before it is over. What should be the result of being awakened by this truth? Should it be merely to fully enjoy every moment of the rest of our life?
If you ask several different people how they find enjoyment and happiness, you will probably get several different answers. There are some who find joy in doing good, in seeking the welfare of others. There are some who want to laugh and to make others laugh. Some turn to sports, movies, the arts, and other recreation to find their enjoyment. Still others seem to find their only enjoyment in doing wickedly, enjoying the pleasures of immorality or violence.
Now which of these do you think are the better citizens? I have no doubt your answer will be, “Those who find joy in doing good, in seeking the welfare of others.” You will probably consider the other groups as harmless except for the last group, and over these you might shake your head and wonder what can be done about all this corruption and violence!
But which group do you suppose God looks upon with approval and says, “These are Mine”? You may be surprised at this, but God does not approve of any of them as such, for “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all need the divine righteousness that comes only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By nature man leaves God out of his thoughts, and by practice he lives to please himself. However, in patience and faithfulness God warns us in many ways that it is later than we think, and would convince us that true enjoyment is found only in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Worldly joy fades into insignificance when compared to the joy found in Him which is truly satisfying and abiding for time and eternity. Faith in Christ as personal Saviour imparts to the soul what Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 1:8, when he writes: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”. The Psalmist David joyfully anticipates the future with the Lord in these words: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Many have been stopped in their whirl of activity when faced with the saying: “It is later than you think!” to determinately turn aside and seek some long desired enjoyment before it is too late. Their decision is wisely made as far as it goes. However, to ignore the true and eternal joys of spiritual value is absolute folly. The Lord Jesus asks in Mark 8:36: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”.
“It is later than you think!” Every second you spend without Christ is depriving you of true joy and peace even now. Should death overtake you, your portion will be eternal torment.
“It is later than you think!” The Lord’s coming is at hand, and salvation’s day of grace will suddenly end. God will then no longer offer His gift of eternal life to you.
“Enjoy yourself” both now and in eternity by believing on the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for you, and thus possess the joy of sins forgiven and peace with God through the blood of His cross.
Jesus says to you in John 10:10; 15:11: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly…. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour in the free pardon of your sins. Allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for your souls salvation from the power of sin and from the punishment of sin in that awful place called Hell. Please pray with me what is called the sinner’s prayer: Holy Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I admit that I have sinned against You and that I have broken Your Ten Commandments. I have lied before. I have stolen things before. I have lusted after people and things before. I have dishonored and disobeyed my parents. I have taken Your holy Name in vain. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please have mercy and grace upon my soul and forgive me of all of my sins, my failures, and my faults. As I now believe in Your Holy Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that He suffered, bled, and died on the cross for my sins, was buried and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to repent of my sins past. Help me to turn from my old, evil life and follow You in the new life. For it is in Your Name I pray. Amen.
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Thank you for listening to this Gospel presentation. If you have decided to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour after listening to this podcast, please email us at gls@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. To find out more about what you need to do after trusting Christ as Savior, visit GospelLightSociety.com and read “What to Do After You Enter Through the Door”.
The tract this podcast is based on is written by F. G. Bonser and published by Moments With The Book, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to spread God’s Word to the world through the printed page and other media. You can order copies of this tract online at MWTB.org.
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