Now is the day of salvation

… Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. – 2 Corinthians 6v2

I really don’t know how to approach this, but know that my spirit was challenged and convicted this morning as I read it. I have heard this verse used to promote high pressured, man-centred “soul winning” but that often results in man trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit in forcing people to make an on the spot decision for or against Christ.

Yet, now is the accepted time and now is the day when the offer of salvation is here. It will not always be here. One day our chance to introduce men to Christ will be over. We don’t know how long the “now”: will last. So we as we see men, not in the flesh, but with the mind of Christ we need to ask ourselves if we understand the importance of “now is the day.”

I think there is a balance. On the one hand we can become high pressure gospel salesmen striving to force a man-made decision. On the other hand we can forget our focus and the shortness of the time. I think the balance is something like this. As we live, serve, and minister we must see others in the light of the shortness of the day. Everything we do and every word we say must be weighed to see the impact it will have on those around us. We need to see men as in need of the Saviour and the time as being short. Now is the day. We must take advantage of it while we can. .

Maybe a couple of honest questions will drive this home. What did you (and I) do the last time that the Lord gave us an opportunity to sit and share the glorious gospel. What did we do with that moment? What did we do the last time we had a chance to show someone the love of Christ? How did we respond the last time a dirty, rotten sinner acted like a dirty rotten sinner?

Did we miss our chance? Or did we grab the chance to show them the love of Christ and maybe even share with them the marvellous gospel of Christ?