Every minute and moment spent living in sin is wasted. What true benefit or satisfaction can come from rebelling against our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior? Sin brings heartache and pain to the sinner and to all affected by his sinful life. Whatever time has been wasted in sin, each person should repudiate his sinful past “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Pet. 4:1-3).

We live in a world troubled with sin, and we are personally troubled with our sins; it is high time we started “redeeming the time” by seeking and obeying God’s will (Eph. 5:14-17). The sinful lusts of this world will all pass away, “but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17). We serve a God of patience who is always ready to receive the penitent sinner. “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the say of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). The time of patience will be followed by a time of judgment. God pleads and waits for men to repent, but finally “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

Those who serve and obey God await the Lord’s return not in terror but in joyful anticipation because we will receive “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” This universe having passed away, we will rejoice around the throne of God in heaven, which will be for us a “new heavens and a new earth” (1 Pet. 1:3-5; 2 Pet. 3:11-13).

“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22;16). Don’t waste another minute living in sin!

- Guardian of Truth, May 18, 1995