We are living in the last days of probation and we do not know how soon our probation shall close. Are we serving God at the right time? Are we walking in the light that God has given us while probation lingers? We must seek the Lord while He may be found so that His coming will not come to us as a surprise.

Isaiah tells us, “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6–7

THE ACCEPTED TIME

There is a time given for us to work. “To every thing there is a season.” Ecclesiastes 3:1. Everything has its limits, including time.

“By denying the evidence which God has been pleased to give them, they shut out the light which had been shining in their hearts, and as the result are left in darkness. Thus the words of Christ are verified: ‘If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!’ (Matthew 6:23). For a time, persons who have committed this sin may appear to be children of God; but when circumstances arise to develop character and show what manner of spirit they are of, it will be found that they are on the enemy’s ground, standing under his black banner.” –Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 37

Dear reader, “the Spirit invites you today. Come with your whole heart to Jesus. Repent of your sins, make confession to God, forsake all iniquity, and you may appropriate to yourself all His promises. ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved’ (Isaiah 45:22) is His gracious invitation.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 634

“‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God. Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.” –Ibid., p. 50

Today the calls are being made that we may know and understand the time in which we are living; we have not a single minute to waste, brethren and sisters.

“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.” Hebrews 3:7–8

Paul warns us, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4–6

“Many will say, I am saved, I am saved, I am saved. Well, have they been cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit? and can they cleanse themselves by the righteousness of the law? Jesus Christ came to this world, and there is His righteousness to impart to the children of men who are obeying the law of God. The whole world can say, I am saved, as well as any transgressor today. They can say, I believe on Christ that He is my Saviour, but why do they disregard His law which is the transcript of His character? When they disregard the law of Jehovah they disregard the Lord Jesus Christ.” –The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 128

DO NOT WASTE TIME

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15–16

“The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment. . . .

“We are admonished to redeem the time. But time squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being coworkers with God in His great plan of redemption. In those who do this, a transformation of character takes place. They become sons and daughters of God, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They are fitted to be companions of the angels.” –To Be Like Jesus, p. 78

“The opportunity that is now ours to speak to some needy soul the word of life may never offer again. God may say to that one, ‘This night thy soul shall be required of thee,’ and through our neglect he or she may not be ready. (Luke 12:20.) In the great judgment day, how shall we render our account to God?” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 342–343

When one dies there is no more time for repentance. “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain. (For He said, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:1–2

“‘Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household?’ Can we answer? Am I the steward, faithful to the sacred trust which is committed to me? To every man is given an individual responsibility. The watchmen have their specific work to discern the approach of danger and sound the note of warning. The soldiers of the cross of Christ are to have ears keen to hear. In their position of responsibility they are to give the trumpet a certain sound, that everyone may gird on the armor for action.” –Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 236

TOO LATE

When Christ leaves His ministration in the most holy place it will be too late for many. The Spirit of Prophecy declares through a vision given to Ellen G White, “Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. Upon His head were many crowns, a crown within a crown. Surrounded by the angelic host, He left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be taught how they might escape His judgments. But the saints had nothing for them. . . . The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested for their salvation, they had not interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it. They did not choose life. . . . And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, ‘Too late! too late!’

“Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord. Said the angel, ‘They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God! but no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day have they slighted salvation, prizing earthly riches and earthly pleasure higher than any heavenly treasure or inducement. They have rejected Jesus and despised His saints. The filthy must remain filthy forever.’ Many of the wicked were greatly enraged as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony.” –The Story of Redemption, p. 404

Today Christ warns us, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be

holy still.” Revelation 22:11

“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them.” –The Great Controversy, p. 613

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:43–44

Remember that the thief is death, our enemy. It can also symbolize the coming of Christ for those who are not ready for His sudden appearing. The thief can break into the house and destroy it at any moment of the night. Death, like a thief in the night, can strike at any moment and usually knocks at the door when one least expects it. Do not be deceived into thinking that only the elderly die. Adults, youth, and children are sometimes called to rest in God’s providence. Perhaps you have lost a dear loved one recently. You know how it hurts and how that person’s memory seems to haunt you with remorse. If only I had spent a little more time with. . . If only I had visited a little more often. . . If only. . .

Jesus also related the word “watch” with His return. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42. Take advantage of this day. Today is the day of salvation. Today I need to spend more time with Jesus. Today I need to decide to visit His house, His church, His people, more often, not just on Sabbath, but on the other days of worship. Today we need to spend more time in His word, in prayer, in testifying for Jesus. Today we need to live life to its fullest potential in Christ. Today you can decide to avoid that “If only I. . .”

“The Bible declares that in the last days men will be absorbed in worldly pursuits, in pleasure and money-getting. They will be blind to eternal realities. . . .

“So it is today. Men are rushing on in the chase for gain and selfish indulgence as if there were no God, no heaven, and no hereafter. In Noah’s day the warning of the flood was sent to startle men in their wickedness and call them to repentance. So the message of Christ’s soon coming is designed to arouse men from their absorption in worldly things. It is intended to awaken them to a sense of eternal realities, that they may give heed to the invitation to the Lord’s table.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 228

“Until Christ shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” the messenger of the Lord writes, “men will become perverse in spirit and turn from the truth to fables. The church will yet see troublous times. She will prophesy in sackcloth.

“But although she must meet heresies and persecutions, although she must battle with the infidel and the apostate, yet by the help of God she is bruising the head of Satan. The Lord will have a people as true as steel, and with faith as firm as the granite rock. They are to be His witnesses in the world, His
instrumentalities to do a special, a glorious work in the day of His preparation.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 594

The wise Solomon said: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10. It is only when we realize that time is short and uncertain that we learn to measure our thoughts, words, and actions in the context of eternity. “Every soul has a heaven to win, and a hell to shun.” –Selected Messages bk. 1, p. 96. It is only possible to gain heaven by God’s grace and by Jesus’ blood.

Finally, brethren, we have no time to waste, for we are living on borrowed time. “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come on you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:2–3. Amen.

May God bless you, peace be unto you.

Jenifer Akello,Uganda

Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo