Time is Short!

1 John 2:18-23 
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
 
We were in a youth group meeting one time when the pastor announced that we were going to play a game called “Minute To Win It”. If you haven’t heard of it, the object of the game is to be given a task that has to be done within 60 seconds. I enjoyed watching the teens play, especially the competitive ones! Their focus on the task was impressive as they ignored all the noise and distractions. Beads of sweat popped up on there foreheads as they got in the zone. The competition was intense as they attempted the impossible – to bounce a ping pong ball onto a piece of bread covered in peanut butter 🙂 Ok, maybe I am exaggerating just a little, but it was a lot of fun! As the clock ran down the intensity increased until that final buzzer announced the end of the competition and the teen would walk away either in victory (which earned a candy bar) or defeat (which resulted in the walk of shame back to their seat) !
 
There are some similarities between this and the Christian walk – but the stakes are much higher. John explained that we are living in the last time according to God’s time table. All that has to be done for the redemption of sinners was accomplished on the cross. From John’s day until now the timer has been ticking away and when the last grain of sand falls in the hour glass the tribulation begins. Until then we have a mission – to proclaim the truth of Christ to the world. There are many who stand up against the truth. John doesn’t pull any punches but describes them as antichrist! He says these people are against the truth of the Grace of Christ and have abandoned God in the pursuit of a lie! 
 
John tells us we have an “unction” from God. This word means “anointing”; to be set apart for a particular purpose. In 1 Samuel 16:13 David is anointed to be the next king. In Isaiah 61:1 he talks about being anointed to proclaim the good tidings of God’s Grace! As followers of Christ we have been set apart for the purpose of proclaiming the Grace of God and contrasting God’s truth with the lies of this world – through acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You cannot say that you know God if you don’t know Christ because to reject Jesus is to Reject God. Matthew 10:32-33 says, 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus warns that if you choose to believe the lie that Jesus was just another good teacher, a moral person who just did good things then you are denying who He is and He will Deny you before God. 
 
Today as we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ let us consider the job that God has given us. The purpose that God has for your life is to climb to the mountaintop of Grace and shout for all you are worth that Jesus Christ is Lord! The hourglass has been turned, the task has been given. Will we take the time we are provided and use it to proclaim the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world!