Pastor’s Corner: “Today is the Day!”
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV) – As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
One of the most popular children’s books ever written is by Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Alexander is a red-headed boy whose day starts like this on page 1: “I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” It’s all downhill from there.
Reading the headlines or watching the news we can easily conclude with Alexander that not only are we experiencing a terrible horrible no good very bad day, but terrible horrible no good very bad times. In fact with the barrage of overwhelming bad news you might think today is doomsday. We wake up the next day expecting things to get better because it doesn’t seem possible it could get worse. Then we realize we are wrong. Terrorism, genocide, food riots, epidemic diseases, spiraling gas prices, climate change, unprecedented corruption, and a host of other unsettling events, are now a daily media regimen. It appears the good news is being swallowed up by the bad news!
Yet in the midst of a world that seems increasingly dark and hopeless, the Bible tells us that from God’s perspective we are living in an extremely favorable time. Are we missing something? Is there something that God knows that we don’t?
When Jesus was handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah at the synagogue in Nazareth, He spoke these startling words: “‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:17-21).
Isaiah 61 goes on to proclaim not only the year of the Lord’s favor but also the day of vengeance of our God. A day of judgment is coming when Christ returns. Those who have rejected Christ will face an eternity apart from the presence of God. The Bible calls this “hell.” But, we are not there yet!
Until then, we are living in the year of the Lord’s favor because Christ died and rose again for our sins. We are living in an unprecedented season! This is not a period of doom and gloom but a time of GREAT REJOICING! Salvation by grace through faith is now available to everyone who repents and believes in His atoning work on the cross. We are living in the best times not the worst! The Good News is that this world we are living in is not the end of the story…..we still have a hope and a future!
Even as bad news swirls all around us, the Good News of His forgiveness and reconciliation is freely extended. The Banquet table is prepared and all are welcome. Luke 14:16-18 (NIV) – 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. Stop making excuses.
The Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians still ring true. “As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
Do You Want to be Saved? Today is the day! We do not have the promise of tomorrow. Don’t wait another minute. We are living in favored and blessed times because God has given us His best….His son Jesus. Accept the fullness of God’s love for you, believe and receive His Son Jesus!
Join me in this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Now, help me to live for You the rest of this life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton