Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.^"1

Ron Clarke from Tasmania wrote about a legend that sounds as if it may have come or been adapted from C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters.

As the legend goes, the devil held a passing-out parade at the evil spiritual academy one year. During the day he questioned three of his evil spirits. To the first he said, "When you get out into the world, what are you going to say to the people?"

"Oh," the evil spirit replied, "I shall tell them that there is no God."

"That's no use," said the devil, "Creation tells people that there is a God. Not many will believe you."

Then he said to the second evil spirit, "And what are you going to tell people?"

"I shall say that there is not going to be a judgment" was the reply.

"That's not much use," answered the devil, "Conscience tells them about judgment. Not many will believe you."

Turning to the third evil spirit, he asked, "What about you?"

"I shall tell people that there is a God and a judgment to come," answered the third evil spirit, "But I shall add that there is no hurry."

"Excellent!" said the devil. "Many will believe that!"

This reminds me of the words of William Shakespeare who said:

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our venture."

If you are not absolutely sure that you are ready to meet God, I encourage you not to delay this decision another day. Whatever you do, don't put it off until tomorrow for none of us have any guarantee of tomorrow. For help be sure to read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian—without having to be religious" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

As God's Word says, "NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.
^"1

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You have the gift of salvation and eternal life for all who will come to You and accept it. Help me to be sure that I am a real Christian and am ready to meet You face to face, for that day will surely come. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV).

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