Living on Borrowed
Introduction
Since our watch night service on New Years Eve, my heart has been on the souls that came to the Lord on New Years. Not only was our church blessed but other churches in our community were also blessed.
My heart was joyful because of the souls that came; but it was also sadden. I know there was some who should have made a decision; but left the church in the same lost condition in which they came. When we gave the invitation nine people indicated that they were not sure of their salvation; but of those that came forward there were still some who raised their hands and did not come forward.
While meditation on this situation, the Lord laid on my spirit the following subject.
Subject
“Living on Borrowed Time!”
They are living on borrowed time because one day the Lord is going to come and those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be condemned to the lake of fire, which burns for eternity.
There are many who have not made a decision because they feel that they have all the time in the world; but what they don’t realize is that they are living on borrowed time.
Peter spoke to such a group as this in:
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. KJV
There was a group who Peter called scoffers who felt that they had all the time in the world because Jesus was not coming back. They were asking the question:
2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. KJV
They were ignorant of what God had done in the past and the character of God. They were making God in their own image and ignoring the facts that God is eternal. So Peter in our scriptures today speaks to those who feel that God is not coming back and you have all the time in the world. His message is you are living on borrowed time.
They are living on borrowed time because we are told:
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: KJV
Jesus told us:
Mark 13:31-33
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. KJV
In our scriptures there are three thoughts I would like to share with you.
First The Deception of Time
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. KJV
The first thing we should notice about the deception of time is:
A. God is not bound by earthly time.
We are told that one-day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. God can do in one day what could take us a thousands years. God’s work is not bound by our measurement of time.
There are two things we should remember about God. First, His eternity exceeds all measurement of time. You can’t us a clock to measure God’s eternity. Secondly, His divine knowledge of all future things is in the presence to Him. While we were in 2007, He was already in our today. While God works in time, He is not limited by or bound by our time.
The second thing we should notice about the deception of time is:
B. God’s motivation is the salvation of the lost.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. KJV
God’s delay is not evidence of God’s indifference; but of His desire that everyone including who did not make a decision on New Years Day.
When we study the works of God you can see that He is never in a hurry, but He is never later. But we must remember we are living on borrowed time.
Second The Definite in Time
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. KJV
There are some things we can be sure of:
A. The Day of the Lord will Come
There is no stopping it. There is no turning it back. The Day of the Lord will come and just as Jesus said; “…as a thief in the night.” We all know this image. A thief will never let you know when he is coming; before you know it he is in and out and hopefully miles away before you know anything.
Before you know anything the day of the Lord will be upon us, we are living on borrowed time.
The second thing we can be sure of:
B. Heaven and Earth shall Pass Away
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. KJV
There will be no hiding place from the Lord. In the movies, part of the President evacuation plan in national emergence is to get on board Air Force One and take to the sky. But in the day of the Lord there will be no place for Air Force One to go for the heaven shall pass away and the earth shall be burned up. We are living on borrowed time.
What shall we do?
Third The Determinations in Time
Since we are aware of the fact that we are living on borrowed time, there are some determinations we must make before it is time.
A. Be Diligent to live Godly Lives
2 Peter 3:11-14
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. KJV
Since we are on borrowed time and do not know when the day of the Lord will come, we need get busy in living a Godly life. To live a godly life is to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. The word of God says be diligent.
Not only should be diligent about living a Godly life but we should also be diligent in our witness to the lost.
B. Be Diligent in Winning Lost Soul
2 Peter 3:15-16
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. KJV
God wants to give lost sinners an opportunity to be saved.
Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? KJV
He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicket. We should have the same desire as God for the lost and remember we are living on borrowed time.
C. Be Diligent in Growing in the Lord:
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. KJV
Throughout this epistle Peter called for us to be diligent.
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; KJV
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: KJV
2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. KJV
Conclusion
2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. KJV
True Christians cannot fall from salvation and be lost; but they can fall from their steadfastness and begin to doubt their relationship with God because of the error of the wicked. They can fall into the things of the world because of listening to false teachers.
This is why Peter says; be diligent in growing in the Lord. Our best defense against error is to know the truth. We must be diligent.
We are living on borrowed time so as Peter tells us:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. KJV
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. KJV
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
KJV
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. KJV
You are living on borrowed time.