I received a “first and final notice” from the public library. As it turns out, a book I borrowed was overdue and was “accumulating fines.” I have no excuse. I was not paying attention. The due date crept up on me. And I will have to pay the price.
But it’s just a book. I still can return it. And the fines will not drag me to the poorhouse. I can pay up and move on with my life. No big deal.
It’s a totally different matter when the issue has to do with one’s eternal destiny. It would be worthwhile to pay attention to scripture’s call to be alert. “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” (1 Peter 1.13 NIV). “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind” (1 Peter 4.7 NIV). “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24.42–44 ESV).
The warnings are clear and unmistakable. The day will surely come when Christ will return as the one who will be the Judge of the living and the dead. A person’s eternal destiny will be determined by that person’s response to Jesus’ call to submit to his lordship. It’s the decision to acknowledge who Jesus is—the loving Savior and living Lord—and to adjust everything in one’s life to align with his will, following his ways. That’s what being ready is all about.
The return of Christ is certain. But the exact timing of his arrival remains unknown. Therefore, the critical time to make a decision about Christ is right now. “Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6.2 NLT). “God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today.’ This he did when a long time later he spoke through David … ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts’” (Hebrews 4.7 NIV).
One should not wait for that time when Christ returns before making that crucial life-and-death decision. For then, it would be too late. And the consequences are eternal. It would be folly to delay. Before you know it, it would be … overdue.
—Keith Y. Jainga