Redeeming the Time
315
loving-kindness and tender mercy of God are marvelous. You have a
little time of probation; will you improve it now while Jesus is pleading
His blood before the Father? He has graciously spared your life; but
it has been like the barren fig tree upon which year after year there
appeared no fruit, nothing but leaves. How long will you continue to
disappoint the Master? Will you compel Him to say: “Let no fruit
grow on thee henceforward forever;” or, “Cut it down; why cumbereth
it the ground”? Oh, wait not for the Lord to put His hand against you
and scatter the property which you have accumulated. Remember that
all your wealth will not give you one moment of sweet assurance and
peace upon your dying bed.
I earnestly urge upon you the necessity of returning to the Lord
at once. I entreat you to disappoint the enemy. Break from off you
his cruel power. Seek, during the remainder of your life, to make
an entirely different record in heaven, one of which you will not be
ashamed when the books shall be opened and the Judge shall pro-
nounce sentence upon those who have neglected this great salvation.
[353]
Paul exhorts his Ephesian brethren to redeem the time because the
days are evil. This exhortation is very applicable to you. In one sense
it is impossible to redeem the time; for once gone, it is gone forever.
But you are called upon to reform, to be zealous of good works in
the same degree that you have been negligent of duty. Turn square
about. Double your diligence to make your calling and election sure.
Keep God’s commandments, and live, and His law as the apple of your
eye. Tax every moment to the utmost in laboring for your own eternal
interest and for the salvation of souls around you. By so doing you
may save both yourself and those who are more or less controlled by
your example. These are motives which should be duly considered.
Wake up! wake up! You have work to do, and your sun is fast
hastening to its setting. Your powers are becoming enfeebled; but
all there is of you, every particle of your ability, belongs to God, and
should be used earnestly and disinterestedly in His service. Work
while the sun still lingers in the heavens; for the “night cometh, when
no man can work.”
Come, my brother, come just as you are, sinful and polluted. Lay
your burden of guilt on Jesus, and by faith claim His merits. Come
now, while mercy lingers; come with confession, come with contrition
of soul, and God will abundantly pardon. Do not dare to slight another