Over my life, I have heard this term, and I have also communicated it to others. There was “the time has come to get off the couch and look for a job” and “the time has come to shake off the ughs and embrace the happy”. When a good friend passed and I was going through a rough time letting go of the grief, someone offered up sage advice and told me “The time has come to let go and move on with your life”. Now, as a counsellor, I can tell you that it is not the best advice but that was then, this is now. I will, however, say this – the time has come to make a decision that will affect not only your life today but also the lives of those around you going forward. The time has come to repent, declare Jesus as Lord and Savior and let Him bless you in ways that you could never imagine.
Over the past decades of ministry, I have seen and heard of people who have some very questionable theories about salvation and grace. There were some who thought they were going to heaven because they were good people but when asked “do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?” they were rather put off. “I have read the Bible; I know what it says” but the question remains; do you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you repented of your sins and claimed Him as the King of your life? The time has come to evaluate one’s own relationship with the King of all kings and ask yourself, “have I asked Him to forgive me, have I asked Him to direct me on my journey to Glory?” Decades ago, my life took a turn for the worse and I idolized the things of the world over my relationship with my Lord. One day, I ended up back at the church I was born into and was challenged by the speaker, Dr. Alden Aikens, during the sermon. He was talking on the perfect healing through the Blood of the Lamb in Acts 3.
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. 17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
I was crippled in my own sin because I had lost sight of the Savior, but, in that moment, I went to the altar and laid my sins at the foot of the cross and turned away from my past. Since my birth, I was in the church, I was in VBS, I memorized bible verses and knew the Lord’s prayer but until I realized that the time had come to repent and declare Jesus as my Savoir, I was still lost. I was one of the people who said, “I am going to heaven because I am a nice guy”, but now I know I am going to Glory because I have repented of my sins, and I know Jesus and declare Him as my salvation. Don’t wait for it to be too late to repent, the time has come to embrace His saving grace.
This week, Community Minister, Eryn Austin-Bergen, will start a two-week series where we will be seeking direction for our faith family’s journey for the next year. Your input either online or in person will truly help us continue to be relevant in our community, both online and in our town. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website (https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.
Blessings,
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