Your Time is Short: Some Reflections on Charles Spurgeon’s Sermon “The Time is Short” (1 Corinthians 7:29) – Part Five of Five Parts

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

This is the fifth 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 fourth point in Spurgeon’s sermon which is the teaching that the expression “the time is short” should alarm a believer about the destiny of the lost unless God intervenes.

I hope you take the time to read this blog. But, if time is short for you, at least ponder the below questions.

Am I greatly distressed that lost people will spend their eternity in hell? If not, what can I do to cause myself to have a heart broken for the lost?

DISCUSSION OF THE FOURTH POINT – THE ALARM

Spurgeon makes an impassioned plea to the lost:

The time is short.” Drive down the broad avenue; walk round the park; look into the old feudal mansion; but “the time is short,” very short, and your tenure very limited. You have gained your object, you are possessed of real property; what next? Why make your will. The thing is urgent. “The time is short.” But what have you not done? You have not believed in Christ: you have not embraced the gospel; you have not found salvation, you have not laid hold on eternal life; you have not a hope to solace you when your strength fails, and you pant for breath. How few the opportunities that remain! Some of you have attended my ministry all the while I have been in London; I wonder how much longer you will hear me. and yet remain unsaved. Your turn to die will come at length. You ail a little, your trifling indisposition does not yield to treatment; the symptoms grow serious, the disease is dangerous, your death is imminent. Pain unnerves you; terror distracts you. Your family and your friends look at you with helpless pity. The doctor has just left you in dismay. Send for the priest, or fetch the parson; but what can they do for you unless you believe in Jesus? ’Tis over, the last struggle! Then picture yourself to yourself, — a lost spirit, asking for a drop of water to cool your tongue! That will be your portion, sinner, unless you repent. Bethink you. sirs, there is but a step between you and death, a short step between you and hell, unless you believe in Jesus. Do you still imagine that there is time enough and to spare? I beseech you. do not cherish so vain a thought. It may be that you suspect me of exaggerating; that I cannot do in such a case as this. Time is rushing on, swiftly but silently. While I speak, the minutes pass, the hour is soon gone, the day is almost spent. I charge you, then, by the ever-blessed Spirit, listen now to the warning; escape from sin; get out of that broad road which leads to destruction: believe in Jesus; lay hold on eternal life. May the Spirit of God arouse you! May these words be blessed to you! They should be put more forcibly if I knew how. With all the fervour of my soul, I entreat you, for I know your everlasting interests are in imminent jeopardy. God grant that you may not linger longer, lest haply you linger too long, and perish in your lingering! “The time is short.”

Spurgeon’s plea raises the follow questions.

Am I greatly distressed that lost people will spend their eternity in hell? If not, what can I do to cause myself to have a heart broken for the lost?

CONCLUSION

The basic takeaway from Spurgeon’s fourth point is an impassioned plea for the lost to be saved.

In a later post, I plan to look at Spurgeon’s plea in more detail.

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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