“Seek the Lord when he can still be found; call him while he is yet near.” Isaiah 55:6
I have some regrets in my life. Things I wish I had done differently. These are my “if onlys.”
Some are whimsical.
- If only I had seen that mud puddle…
- If only I had not eaten that second doughnut…
- If only I had used sunblock…
- If only I had not put a pink shirt in with the whites…
Some are more serious.
- If only I would have listened…
- If only I had made that phone call…
- If only I had watched where I was going…
- If only I had kept my mouth shut…
- If only I had taken the time…
- If only I had chosen differently…
I suppose we all have our own personal list of “if onlys,” but there is one “if only” that no one should ever experience. It is “If only I had called upon the Lord…”
The Bible tell us there will be a time when calling upon the Lord will be finished. Fortunately, that time has not arrived yet. God is still patiently waiting, giving everyone a chance to call upon Him for salvation. 2 Peter 5:9 reminds us that God “…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Today, God is very near. He is waiting for each of us to call upon Him. While salvation is the greatest need of mankind, God also wants His children to continually be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:8) We can call upon Him for help, for comfort, for hope. No care is too small. Jesus waits to hear them all. He tells us in Jeremiah 29:12, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” If we call, He will hear us. And if He hears us, He will respond. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14)
Take time today to call upon the Lord. He’s waiting to hear from you.
The Savior is waiting to enter your heart,
Why don’t you let Him come in?
There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart,
What is your answer to Him?
Time after time He has waited before,
And now He is waiting again,
To see if you’re willing to open the door,
Oh, how he wants to come in.
(from “The Saviour Is Waiting” by Ralph Carmichael)
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18
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Calling upon Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and saving you is the first step. After that, He wants to hear from you about everything! Won’t you call upon Him today?