Revelation 1:3 KJV 1900

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

SEVEN FOOLS

illustration

If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,000 that carried over no balance from day to day...Allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening cancelled whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent every day, of course, and use it to your advantage! Well, you have such a bank, and its name is TIME! Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as lost whatever of this you failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances, it allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.

Source Unknown.

The Fool Who Does Not Redeem the Time

The Fool Who Does Not Redeem The Time

Ephesians 5:15–16 KJV 1900

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1. We want to place before you one who has fully been awakened to his lost estate.

He has realized that he is building on the sands; he knows that he has no assurance of eternal life; he concedes the need of a Saviour and believes that Jesus Christ is that Saviour,

We want to show satan's tactics toward such a soul, toward the one who is awakened

The enemy sees the sinner under deep conviction; he hears the man of God as he presses home upon the sinner, the plan of salvation in Christ alone. Then it is that satan urges that there is "plenty of time yet."

But is there plenty of time?

Does it pay to procrastinate?

Is it wise to delay?

We remember reading a sign once on a business man's desk. It ran: "Do It Now."

Certainly that is the only wise course for the lost sinner. Now, is the only time he has. Christ says:

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV 1900

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

There is always danger in delay. The heart may get hardened against God, the life may become more and more entangled in sin; the devil will certainly not become less active in his efforts to wreck your hopes.

Now, is the only safe time. The one who postpones the day of his decision for God, is a fool. No one knows what a day may bring forth.

If you are ever coming to Christ come now. Besides there is a waste of time in delay. Suppose that you do defer your acceptance of Christ, and then in after years you are saved. Still you have played the fool, because you have wasted many precious days that might have been used for service, and for "laying up treasures in Heaven." There is but one wise course, Come now.

3. We want to press upon believers (You that claim salvation in your life) the need of redeeming the time.

They, too, may play the fool, by wasting their opportunities. If the sinner should come now, the saint should go now and preach.

When God spoke to Philip:

There is every suggestion of prompt obedience.

Acts 8:26 KJV 1900

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

God's commands do not brook delay. Matters which concern eternal issues are too often at stake.

Obedience postponed, is only half obedience. Besides this, we need to get the present duty done, so we will be ready for a further call.

The days are evil, there is much that needs to be done, and there is much that needs to be done right now. Let us be wise, not as fools, redeeming the time.

The Fool Who Dies Outside the City of Refuge

2 Samuel 3:33–34 KJV 1900

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

2 Samuel 3:33 KJV 1900

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

2 sam.

The story of the death of Abner is familiar to most of us.

Abner was housed in one of Israel's cities of refuge. While there he was safe. Joab, who was the leader of David's armies, came along, and, feigning friendship for Abner, called him forth outside the city. Abner stepped out to speak with Joab, and Joab slew him there with a sword.

There is a refuge for us in Christ Jesus

The cities of refuge all typed our Lord Jesus, as a Saviour of men.

Just as the city of refuge gave shelter and succor to those who entered them, against any pursuer;

Just as the ark gave Noah and his household refuge from the ravages of the flood; so does Christ give refuge to those who fly to Him for help.

The old hymn:

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee, Let the water and the Blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin a double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure."

No matter how many cities of refuge there were, one outside the city gates was wholly unsafe

And what good is the salvation that there is in Christ, unless one receives Him. "I am the Door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." But, we must enter in.

The one who is pursued, the one who has an enemy and refuses or neglects to enter into the refuge is a fool

Abner stood without, and died. How many there are who die, as fools die. They knew that satan was close upon them, they knew that Jesus Christ was a shelter from satan's wrath, and yet they entered not.

The storm is raging, and just at hand is a shelter from the storm, then why not enter in?

"There is a gate that stands ajar, And, through its portals gleaming, A radiance from the land afar, A Saviour's love revealing. Oh, depths of mercy can it be, That gate was left ajar for me."

SEVEN FOOLS

No Time to Play

My precious boy with the golden hair Came up one day beside my chair And fell upon his bended knee And said, “Oh, Mommy, please play with me!”

I said, “Not now, go on and play; I’ve got so much to do today.” He smiled through tears in eyes so blue When I said, “We’ll play when I get through.”

But the chores lasted all through the day And I never did find time to play. When supper was over and dishes done, I was much too tired for my little son.

I tucked him in and kissed his cheek And watched my angel fall asleep. As I tossed and turned upon my bed, Those words kept ringing in my head,

“Not now, son, go on and play, I’ve got so much to do today.” I fell asleep and in a minute’s span, My little boy is a full-grown man.

No toys are there to clutter the floor; No dirty fingerprints on the door; No snacks to fix; no tears to dry; The rooms just echo my lonely sigh.

And now I’ve got the time to play; But my precious boy is gone away. I awoke myself with a pitiful scream And realized it was just a dream

For across the room in his little bed, Lay my curly-haired boy, the sleepy-head. My work will wait ‘til another day For now I must find some time to play.

Dianna (Mrs. Joe) Neal.