For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
“That man, in his lifetime, had been wont to jeer at me. In strong language, he had often denounced me as a hypocrite. Yet he was no sooner smitten by the darts of death than he sought my presence and counsel, no doubt feeling in his heart that I was a servant of God, though he did not care to own it with his lips. There I stood, unable to help him. Promptly as I had responded to his call, what could I do but look at his corpse and mourn a lost soul? He had, when in health, wickedly refused Christ, yet in his death-agony he had superstitiously sent for me. Too late, he sighed for the ministry of reconciliation and sought to enter in at the closed door, but he was not able. There was no space left him then for repentance, for he had wasted the opportunity that God had long granted to him.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) in The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon: Selected Books, Sermons, and Other Writings, ed. Daniel Partner (Uhrichsville: Barbour, 2009) 107.
In 1854, when Spurgeon was a young minister, the cholera outbreak in London took the lives of many. Today’s post recounts a person who had once rejected the message of the gospel and called for Spurgeon too late.
As COVID-19 progresses slowly but widely across the planet, the sad reality is that many people will contract the disease and some of them will die. So, now is the window of time for everyone to get right with God.
So what does generosity look like today?
We must not waste this opportunity. Share toilet paper. Give richly to church and charities. Distribute food and games. And encourage everyone to get right with God. “Now is the time of God’s favor. Now is the day of salvation.” Give the gift of eternity!
Father, forgive us our sins and heal our world. Spirit, guide us to people before it’s too late who have yet to experience Your grace and unconditional love. In your mercy, hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.