THE NIGHT IS COMING

THE NIGHT IS COMING 

"I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" - John 9:4 (KJV)

"We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over" - John 9:4 (MSG)

Few weeks ago, the above scripture came alive in my spirit while attending the funeral service of a friend in Lagos. As the chorus of the farewell hymn "Good night! Good night!! Good night!!!" echoed at the graveyard, the reality of the brevity of human life struck a chord in my heart again. The obvious truth is, our days on earth will not last forever. Methuselah's (the oldest man that ever lived) days lasted for 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Although, that was a long day but we cannot compare it with the length of eternity. Even if our days on earth is as long as that of Methuselah, the night will surely come one day. So, the question is when will the night come? For some people,  the night will begin when they die while for others it will come when Jesus Christ returns for the rapture of His Church  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). And this could happen at any moment from now.  

While it is day, we need to emulate Jesus Christ by living wisely and optimally working for God with all our might and strength (John 9:4). As pilgrims, we must live everyday with the consciousness that our days on earth are numbered. If we live wisely and maximise our day for God, when night comes, we shall be ushered into the place of eternal rest to receive full reward for our labour on earth (Revelation 22:12). We shall be greatly honoured but those who did not work for God shall be beaten with many stripes ( Luke 12:47). They will be embarrassed and disgraced.  

"The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes"-  Luke 12:46 -47 (KJV)

Friends, are you living wisely and optimally for God today?  Does heaven have any record of your work or service for God in His kingdom today? Hope you are not the Honorable Methuselah of your church?  Hope you are not among those idle ones in the kingdom? What legacy will you leave behind when your days on earth is over? The truth is, time is actually running out. The right time to work for God is now. There is no doubt that every passing day brings us closer to the night when no man will work again. The greatest work anyone can do for God is to evangelise. Souls are perishing daily but committed labourers are very few and God wants us to enlist kingdom labourers for the end time rescue operation (Matthew 9:37-38). This is the heartbeat of God.  Therefore, I urge you to work for God now while you still have the breath of life in your nostrils. Once the day is over, no one can turn back the hand of time and every minute lost is lost forever . 

However, for anyone to work for God in the day, he/she must be genuinely saved. Yes, you cannot serve the God that you do not know. It was after Saul of Tarsus had an encounter with God that he began to work for God (Acts 9:1-6). Friends, you need to be saved like Saul of Tarsus to be useful for God. Please surrender your life to Jesus today. Time is running out, please do not procrastinate again. 

“Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work." - Revelation 22:12 (MSG)

Beloved, have you being working for God faithfully? Then, please let the Lord encourage you to keep doing His work faithfully as you meditate on lyrics of a wonderful hymn composed by a 18 year old young lady- Anna L. Coghill in 1854. The hymn which clearly emphasises the words of Jesus Christ in John 9:4 is titled "Work, For The Night is Coming" . May the Lord ignite a fresh passion for kingdom service in our hearts today in Jesus name.   

WORK, FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work 'mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man's work is done.

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man's work is o'er.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that God will help us to be mindful of the brevity of time so that we can live wisely and optimally to promote the kingdom's Agenda before night comes. May every minute we  spend on earth be useful and meaningful in the light of eternity. May we be faithful to the end in our calling and make our election sure as the daylight of this world fades away. And when Christ returns, may we rise to meet Him, receive our reward and reign with Him for eternity in the City of Gold. 

Good day and God bless you.(Amen)

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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