INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
This is the fourth of five blog posts that present my takeaways from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon entitled “The Time is Short.” The link to the sermon is The Spurgeon Library | The Time is Short.
In this post, I will briefly discuss the third point in Spurgeon’s sermon which is the teaching that the expression “the time is short” inspires a believer to launch out immediately in service to God.
I hope you take the time to read this blog. But, if time is short for you, at least ponder the below questions.
Do I steward my time like there is no time to waste? If I don’t, how can I change to steward better my time?
Do I procrastinate about showing to others the love of Christ in a tangible way? If so, what steps can I take to eliminate procrastination from my life?
Am I content where I am in life? What or who is the source of my contentment? If I am not content, what must I do tohave contentment?
Do I place too much stock in the things of the world? If so, what can I do to change?
Do I look forward to spending eternity the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? If not, why not, and what can I do to change?
DISCUSSION OF THE THIRD POINT – THE INSPIRATION
There are five takeaways that generate questions.
First, Spurgeon says that there is no time to waste:
It ought to fire us with zeal for immediate action. The sun hastens on, the sands run down. “How is the accepted time.” Let those who love the Lord be prompt. The time to do the deeds that thou must do, or leave them undone, flies swiftly past. Say not, “I will do this by-and-by.” Ho it at once. Other duties await thee; brief is the space allotted thee for all.
This point generates the questions below.
Do I steward my time like there is no time to waste? If I don’t, how can I change to steward better my time?
Second, Spurgeon says a believer must be sensitive to, and act upon, God’s urging to act:
The time is so short that the matter is urgent. Do not wait, young man, to preach Jesus till you have had more instruction; begin at once. You, who mean to do something for the poor of London when you have hoarded up more money, spend your money now; do it at once. You, who mean to leave a large sum to charities when you die, defer it not; be your own executors. Lay out the capital at once; get some joy and comfort out of it yourselves. Now is the time to carry a good purpose into good effect. Before you were saved, the message to you was, “To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” After you are saved, the message to you is, “To-day, obey his voice, and serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength.” “The time is short,” so make the most of it.
Relevant questions are below.
Do I procrastinate about showing to others the love of Christ in a tangible way? If so, what steps can I take to eliminate procrastination from my life?
Third, Spurgeon says that a believer needs to be content about their circumstances:
Then seeing that “the time is short,” let us bear with patience the ills that vex us. Are we very poor? “The time is short.” Does the bitter cold pierce through our scanty garments? “The time is short.” Is consumption beginning to prey on our trembling frame? “The time is short.” Are we unkindly treated by our kinsfolk? Do our comades revile, and our neighbours mock us? “The time is short.” Have we to hear evil treatment from an ungenerous world? “The time is short.” Do cruel taunts try our tempers? “The time is short.” We are travelling at express speed, and shall soon be beyond the reach of all the incidents and accidents that disturb and distract us. As we travel home to our Father’s house, the distance diminishes, and we begin to sight the city of the blessed, “the home over there.”
The relevant questions read.
Am I content where I am in life? What or who is the source of my contentment? If I am not content, what must I do to have contentment?
Fourth, Spurgeon says that a believer must not be worldly-minded:
Worldly-mindedness ill becomes us who have confessed that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” “The time is short” in which we can hold any possessions in this terrestrial sphere. Then, let us not love anything here below too fondly. We brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Survey your broad acres, but remember that you will not long be able to walk across them. Look on your plenteous crops, but ere long another shall reap the profit of those fields. Count your gold and silver, but know that wealth, greedily as it is sought, will not give you present immunity from sickness and sorrow, neither will it secure your welfare when called to quit your frail tenement. Trust in the living God. Love the Lord, and let eternal things absorb your thoughts and engage your affections.
Pertinent questions are below.
Do I place too much stock in the things of the world? If so, what can I do to change?
Fifth, Spurgeon says a believer should look forward with joyous expectation to heaven:
Are these gloomy reflections? Nay, dear brethren, the fact that “the time is short” should inspire us, who are of the household of faith, with the most joyous expectations. Do you really believe in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Do you really believe that your head is to wear a crown of life that fadeth not away? Do you really believe that these feet of yours, all shod with silver sandals, will stand upon that street of pure gold? Do you really believe that these hands shall pluck celestial fruits from trees whose leaves can never wither, and that you shall lie down in the spice-beds in the gardens of the blessed? Do you believe that these eyes shall see the King in that day when he comes in his glory, and that these bones shall rise again from the grave, and your bodies shall be endowed with an incorruptible existence? “Yes,” say you, “we do believe it, and believe it intensely, too. Well, then, I would that ye realized it as so very near that you were expectant of its fulfilment. Who would cry and fret about the passing troubles of a day when he saw the heavens open, beheld the beckoning hand, and heard the voice that called him hence?
This point raises the questions below.
Do I look forward to spending eternity the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? If not, why not, and what can I do to change?
CONCLUSION
There are five major takeaways from Spurgeon’s point that the teaching that the expression “the time is short” inspires a believer to launch out immediately in service to God. These takeaways are below.
First, there is no time to waste.
Second, a believer must be sensitive to, and act upon, God’s urging to act.
Third, a believer needs to be content about their circumstances.
Fourth, a believer must not be worldly-minded.
Fifth, a believer should look forward with joyous expectation to heaven.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my new (published in October, 2021) book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell. But, your destiny can change. Today can be the day of your salvation.
Please see my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/04/20/for-god-so-loves-you-2/) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/10/20/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2/ ).
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