A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 2 NO. 30                                       September 11, 2005

THE TIME IS NOW

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

“See then that you walk cricumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16).

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep thoes things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3).

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Do you remember the old saying “Tomorrow is the today that you talked about yesterday.”?  How many times in our life have we put off until tomorrow those things which we needed to do today?  There is also another saying “Tomorrow never comes.”  While these sayings are catchy and sometimes used in jest, their meaning is direct and to the point.

The scriptures mentioned above warn us that time is something that we need not to take for granted.  The list of things such as cleaning the garage, painting a room, working in the yard, taking a trip, etc. are all things that can wait if we so wish.  However, the taking care of the needy, the visiting of the sick, the edification of a spiritually weak brother or sister in Christ, the carrying of the gospel to the lost, etc. are things that need our attention RIGHT NOW!

We have hundreds of brothers and sisters in Christ in need in the storm stricken area of our country at the time of this writing.  Unfortunately many of us do not know how to handle a situation like this.  Because of the great split in the church many years ago some brethren are talking about helping and yet have no idea how to.  Acts 11:27-30 tells how relief was sent to Judea in a time of need.  Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; Luke 10:29; Romans 13:9 all teach us about loving our neighbor and who is our neighbor.  For many years those of the institutional churches of Christ have looked upon those of us that are non institutional and made the accusation that we are not compassionate toward our nighbors and are “anti” when it comes to assisting those in need.

NOW IS THE TIME for us here at Greenwood and for those in other congregations to help those in need just as the Lord has described for us to do.  Information of how to do so is available on the back bulletin board.

Also, our gospel meeting starts today and NOW IS THE TIME for us here at Greenwood to take the gospel to all corners of our area.  NOW IS THE TIME to invite your family, friends, co-workers that are not members of the Lord's body to come and hear His Good News.  HOW IS THE TIME for every member here at Greenwood to take the steps necessary to increase their commitment to the Lord by being active in the work of this local congregation.  NOW IS THE TIME for all fathers here at Greenwood to take control of your home and see that your family starts serving the Lord as they should.  My brethren, NOW IS THE TIME for us to take a stand against Satan and put on the whole armor of God and be an active warrior for Christ!

Paul gives Timothy the warning of what will come in latter times and what to preach to battle these things (I Timothy 4:1-5; II Timothy 4:1-4).  We are in the latter times now!  Also, we have numerous passages pertaining to our work of taking care of those in need.  None more heart wrenching than what we find Joses doing in Acts 4:36-37 or those in Acts 2:44-45.  It seems that our forefathers in the faith understood that NOW IS THE TIME to do what needed to be done and may we strive to recognize that also!