It's Time To Turn To The Lord

It’s Time to Turn to the Lord

Text: Isa. 55:6-7; Heb. 2:3-4

Intro: In the book of Ecclesiastes, we find these words, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). According to one commentator, the meaning of this verse is as follows:

Everything in nature and in human life is under a set scheme. There is a season (an appointed period) and a time (a predetermined occurrence) for all that takes place under the sun. Seeming chance events are all part of a huge plan.(1)

I don’t think that implies that man’s decisions are meaningless, or that his choices change nothing, but simply that God has not left His creation to function based on mere chance. Even the mistakes and mishaps of man’s foolhardiness were foreseen by an all-wise God, Who will carry out His plans and purposes in spite of man’s lack of wisdom and foolish choices. Nothing takes God by surprise.

Suffice it to say, God’s Word teaches that there is a season and a time for every purpose. For instance, Paul told the Roman saints that it was time for the saints to awaken from their spiritual lethargy, when he said, “…it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11).

However, Paul made another statement that fits well with what’s on my heart this morning. He said, “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2b). According to Paul, there is but one period of time of which one can be sure, when it comes to turning from one’s sins, and trusting Christ for salvation; that is now. Only now. God promises nothing more, and nothing less. A lot of lost folks think to themselves, “I plan to get saved sometime—someday.” The truth however, is that you aren’t promised sometime, or someday. You only have now.

There comes a time when God’s patience with man and his sin runs out. Genesis 6:3 says, “…My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Mankind had become so wicked in the days of Noah that God finally decreed that He would give man but 120 more years in which to repent. However, when Noah finished the ark, judgment came just as God had decreed.

In view of eternity, one’s commitment to Christ must not be taken lightly. Hence, the title, “It’s Time to Turn to the Lord.”

Consider the following thoughts with me today.

Theme: If you’ve never given your heart to Christ, turn to the Lord…

I. WHILE the SPIRIT STILL TUGS

A. He Tugs at the Sinner’s Heart by Convicting Him of Sin.

John 16:8 “And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;”

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

B. He Tugs at the Sinner’s Heart by Convincing Him of His Need for the Savior.

Acts 16:29 “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Conversion of the Philippian jailer)

NOTE: [1] Dear friend, if you ever become convinced that you are lost and that you face a Christless eternity in Hell, and that committing your whole life to Jesus by faith is the only answer to your dilemma, you won’t be afraid to publicly give your heart to Christ. You won’t care about the pettiness of being embarrassed that others might think badly of you.

[2] Once, I was about to drown in a river. Embarrassment never crossed my mind. I screamed for help. When help arrived in the form of a young man named Gerald Gun, I clung to him with all my might. I wasn’t ashamed that I needed help; I was about to die. That’s all that mattered at that moment.

C. He Tugs at the Sinner’s Heart By Calling Him to Salvation.

John 6:44a “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”

Rev. 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”