No expiration date

May 9, 2007

By Randy Mantik

I recall talking to someone several years ago who had just purchased a used early-1990s Chevrolet product. During those years, many cars of that model had significant problems with their paint, and this fellow’s vehicle was no different. Even though the car was not very old and was in great shape mechanically, the paint had cracked and peeled and it looked horrible.

He had planned to get it repainted, but then discovered there was a recall — get this — on the car’s paint! Who knew! So off he went to his local GM dealer to ask about the recall.

The service manager came out to look at the car and said, “Wow! This is the last day you can come in to have the car taken care of under the recall. I guess this is your lucky day!” So with just hours to spare before the expiration date on the recall, the guy got his new paint job.

Salvation has an expiration date, too. It can only be received in this life and then the offer expires for eternity. When is the expiration date? The day of our death. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27, KJV).

However, if we’re breathing, we’re still living in the realm of hope. I love what the Psalmist says. “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.” (Psalm 71:14, KJV). “But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish” (Psalm 9:18, NIV). “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3).

We always have the ability to come to God. This should comfort us in two ways: If we are far from Christ, there is always time to come back, at least until we draw our last breath. If we are praying for someone who is far from the Lord, there is always hope while they live. The promises of life eternal are still in effect.

“So as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion’ ” (Hebrews 3:7,8). No matter how close we may be coming to the deadline, we still receive all of the wonders of salvation, just like the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Each received the same wages regardless of the amount of time he worked. I often think about the thief on the cross who, just minutes before his death, accepted Jesus and received all the benefits of paradise.

We don’t need to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the fruits of righteousness. It would have been ridiculous for the guy I told you about to not take advantage of the free paint job for his car. Why run around in a crummy looking vehicle when you can have a bright, shiny one?

The principle applies to our spiritual life. There’s no reason to go around depressed and weighed down when we can ask for and receive the joy of the Lord to be our strength and His peace that goes beyond our comprehension. Choose to be renewed and refreshed by the hope God offers for every minute of every day!

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.