Receive the Precious Gift

December 16

At opposite ends of the salvation spectrum are these conflicting thoughts: first, that we have limitless time at our disposal to receive the Lord’s “…unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15) of salvation and second that once an opportunity is neglected, there will never be another.

Although, if we are to err, it would be preferable to do so on the side of caution, even if that meant fear would drive us to the Throne of Mercy and Grace rather than that we would allow His love to draw us there, we should be aware that His “compassion fails not; it is new every morning,” (Lamentations 3:22, 23).

Each new day will find Him wooing us to Himself. It doesn’t matter if that day finds us hung over from an alcoholic binge the night before in the bed of a stranger, or if it finds us plotting how to spend ill-gotten gain, God’s mercy will be renewed to us that day. What such a day might also find, however, is that because of our having turned away from His will and His way, we won’t be sensitive to His wooing.

That is why we are admonished in Isaiah 55:6, 7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts; let him turn to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; He will freely pardon.” Yes, the Lord’s mercy is ever toward errant man, but man, steeped in sin, isn’t looking for it; so, at the moment his spiritual eyes are open, he must receive the precious gift.