There's still time

Introduction

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Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Pray

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Introduction:

A man walking in sin perilously close to hell gets a phone call. As he listens intently, a shadow falls across his face, It’s 11:59 PM and his favorite sin awaits. He asks the person on the other end of the phone if there’s still time to make it.

The voice replies, “Yes.” Comforted that there is still time he makes his way to the door thinking on harm can befall him giving in to the very temptation that has ensnared him time and time again. His heart races, and a battle rages within him but it is quieted when he tells himself, “there is still time.”

Oh yes, the old lie, “There’s still time.”

Point 1: Make Straight the Path

‌Isaiah 40:1-8

Isaiah 40:1–8 NKJV

1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.” 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

The Bible says, “He who promised is faithful.” THIS ALSO APPLIES TO HIS JUDGEMENTS.

John the Baptist minced no words when he called out the brood of vipers known as the pharisees and referenced this prophecy saying, “MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATH OF THE LORD!” You see, John being led by the Spirit of the Lord called on the old prophecy to declare what was to come. This was a prophet’s job. They would keep nations in check and warn of impending judgments. John did not have time to play around because he understood the old lie, “There is still time” for what it was.

He heralded as a sounding trumpet a dire warning to get ready—the king is coming! Are you ready?

‌We saw the events in Israel yesterday. Israel is at war, the Euphrates river is drying up. The Bible makes it clear that no one but the Father will know the day or the hour, but the word of God said we will know the sign of the times. Hear me church, the trumpet has sounded!

Ephesians 5:15–16 NKJV

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The days are evil and the damned will pay in flames.

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‌Transition: The devil has infiltrated our very language to produce idioms and phrases that are in direct opposition to the Gospel yet we walk around saying them every day and especially in church. One of these phraes is:

Point 2: There Is No Fence

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Ever heard that phrase, “The devil owns the fence?” That’s a lie from the pits of hell! THERE IS NO FENCE. The word of the Lord says YOU EITHER SERVE GOD OR YOU SERVE THE ENEMY. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN.

Imagine a field with no fences, where sheep can wander freely. The lie, "There's still time," is like a fence that we build around ourselves, thinking that we can safely remain on the wrong side of it until the last moment. But there is no fence that can protect us from the consequences of our actions and choices. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve believed a similar lie when they thought they could hide from God behind fig leaves. They discovered that there is no hiding from the Almighty. Similarly, there is no fence that can shield us from God's judgment. We must tear down the fences we've built in our hearts and draw near to Him while we still can.

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One of the most dangerous lies we tell ourselves is that there's still time to repent and turn back to God. We may think we can continue living in sin, assuming we can always change later.

However, the consequences of delayed repentance can be severe. Sin can harden our hearts, damage relationships, and distance us from God's blessings. The longer we wait, the harder it may become to make amends.

But you see, there is a bigger problem. GRACE RUNS OUT.

Point 3: Seek Him While He May Be Found

Isaiah 55:6–7 NKJV

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

‌I’m here to tell you church, objects in mirror are closer than they appear. The king is coming and grace runs out. The Word of God says to seek Him while He may be found. Forsake your sin and repent before it is too late. There is coming a day when no more cries of repentance can go out. Grace will run dry. Hear the word of the Lord.

There is no repentance in the grave, there is no such thing as a post-death conversion. SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND. TURN FROM YOUR WAYS.

2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The time is now. Repent before it is too late.

The Bible says be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I’m talking about being blood-washed, spirit baptized, and living renewed and holy!

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Conclusion

Where are you at in your walk? Are you like the man in my introduction entertaining your favorite sin and lulling yourself to sleep with the old lie that there is still time?

Repent or else suffer the trumpet.

altar call