The Bible calls us to take stock of it all with the question: “. . . For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).
It highlights to us that “. . . it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
It invites us to “. . . number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 KJV).
The Word of God (the Bible) brings us meaning and purpose for all time and beyond into eternity: “. . . the holy scriptures . . . are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)
The prophet Hosea’s message to the people of his day was: “It is time to seek the LORD” (Hosea 10:12) and that message is just as vital for us today.
Hosea’s stark instruction was given during a particularly dark period in the life of the nation of Israel, a people with a track record of being sinful, rebellious and unfaithful.
Against this backdrop, Hosea (whose name means salvation) appears on the scene, and God indicates, through His prophet, that because of their turning from Him they will experience exile. The nation is called to repent, and the promise of future restoration and blessing is given.
What about you today? Why should seeking the LORD be a priority, and why should you seek Him now?
The Bible declares: “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Sin is an offence to God and every person stands guilty before Him, having fallen short of His perfect standard. God is holy and just, and eternal condemnation is the sentence due for guilty sinners.
The good news of the Bible is that salvation (deliverance from sin’s penalty) is freely available to all today through the Person of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son . . .” (Galatians 4:4). In His death on a cross, the Lord Jesus Christ became the once and for all sacrifice for sin, shed His precious blood and died voluntarily for us, rising again from the dead on the third day.
On the basis of Christ’s death and resurrection, God is both willing and able to forgive our sin and grant us eternal life, so that we can enjoy fellowship with Him beyond time and into eternity.
This gift of salvation can be received by all, but each person has a responsibility in time, and that is to turn from sin to God and to place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to receive the blessing of salvation. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Time is of the essence in this most vital matter of salvation. In Hosea’s words, “It is time to seek the LORD.” The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Salvation is by God’s grace alone and can be received through faith in Christ alone today. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
Trust the Lord Jesus Christ today for salvation, for “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
By the grace of God, this will bring you into the assurance of new life from above, a home in heaven, and an entirely new purpose in life – to “. . . seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
“It is time to seek the LORD.”
