"AT THE END OF THE DAY"
It seems that language is never static and new words and phrases are being introduced to our vocabulary. I listened to young people speaking and they described a situation that involved heat and sweat yet it was described as, “cool”! A phrase, which is often repeated by many folks from many walks of life, is, “At the end of the day.” This seldom means a day of twenty-four hours. To a politician it may mean, “at the end of the debate;” to a sportsman it may mean, “at the end of the season;” to a student it may mean, “at the end of the term or semester.”
The Bible also uses the word, “day” to describe a lengthy period of time that could last for many years. One such example is found in 2 Corinthians 6 verse 2, “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.” It is this expression, “the day of salvation” which I would like you to consider by pondering three questions — Why do I need salvation? How can I get salvation? When can I get salvation?
Why do I need salvation?
People who are lost need to be saved. The Bible teaches that all of us, all humanity without exception is lost, just like sheep. Isaiah 53 verse 6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…” Because this is true collectively, it must be true individually, thus the Psalmist wrote, Psalm 119 verse 176, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep.” The New Testament underlines the same thought, Romans 3 verses 10-12, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
How can I get salvation?
We cannot work for salvation. Just like a lost sheep we will wander farther away from God until at last we are condemned by Him to be banished from Him eternally. Salvation was supplied by God’s marvellous and rich grace, when He gave His Son to die for our sins upon the cross. 1 Peter 3 verse 18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” John 3 verse 16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The chapter which tells us we are as lost sheep also tells us how we can be saved, Isaiah 53 verse 5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” A person will be found when he or she returns to God by putting their faith in the Lord Jesus. In 1 Peter 2 verse 25 people who are saved are described as, “sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
When can I get salvation?
That there is a time limit can be clearly seen from the expression, “the day of salvation.” This day commenced when the Saviour died, went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to earth. It will conclude when the Saviour returns to take all who have put their faith in Him for salvation, to heaven. His coming is an event that could take place at any moment. Thus we must be saved and can be saved but only before His coming. That is an undefined moment and thus we need to be ready. Isaiah 55 verse 6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon Him while he is near.” You could search when it is too late. Ponder what the Lord Jesus said in Luke 13 verse 25, “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.”
The big question for each reader to answer is “Where will I be AT THE END OF THE DAY?”