As the sand runs through the hourglass so have the months of the present year come and gone, leaving but a few grains of sand to yet drop, so to speak, indicating the end of another year is near.

"WHAT TIME IS IT?" - It is time to look back and reflect; it is time to look forward and anticipate. Sometimes, we are told, the mountain climber pauses to rest for a while in order to look back on the trail he has traveled and then onward and upward to the peak he desires to reach. In this way he gains fresh strength to reach his goal. It is time, then for us to pause to both reflect and anticipate.

Looking Back to Reflect

Hardly a day has passed without some fresh outbreak of violence and corruption. The Bible prophecy that men shall "wax worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13) has been proven to be true. The "change" and "restlessness" of a world away from God have been more and more in evidence. Truly the prince and god of this world—Satan—has been busier than ever, knowing his time is short. But God is allowing all to make men realize their need of Him. Alas, however, men seem deaf to His Word with "no fear of God before their eyes." Hence, "the way of peace have they not known" (Rom. 3:17).

The child of God, however, can reflect on God's faithfulness. In the path of faith, even in this world of turmoil, change, restlessness, sorrow and death, the Lord Jesus Christ has been sufficient. In Him, the believer has found peace in the turmoil, stability in change, rest in labor, comfort in sorrow and life in death. With Joshua we can say, "Not one thing which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof" (Joshua 23:14). "WHAT TIME IS IT?" It is time to pause to thank and praise His Name for His love and care.

Looking up to Anticipate

The mountain peak on which our sight is set, as the sands of the year run out, is that glorious meeting "in the air." "Looking for that blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). As the days grow darker, our Hope becomes brighter. Christ has promised to come to the air and call us out of the world to be with Himself forever. For the believer, this Hope is a sanctifying factor in his daily living, and a stimulating force to press on to the goal set before him. "WHAT TIME IS IT?" - It is time to rejoice, for the coming of the Lord draws near.

Does my reader have this Hope? Surely, you must be troubled by the increasing hopelessness of man's endeavors to remedy the condition and solve the problems of the world. Will you not realize that God is speaking to YOU individually? The welfare of your own immortal soul hangs in the balance. "WHAT TIME IS IT?" Will you not see that IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD? "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa. 55:6).

"WHAT TIME IS IT?" - It is time for you to be saved NOW. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). He wants you to belong to Him and have His "goodness and mercy," which you can reflect upon and see following you all the days of your life. He wants to assure you of the certain anticipation that you shall "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6).

"WHAT TIME IS IT?" - It is time to sing:

"We'll praise Him for all that is past, And trust Him for all that's to come." (—Little Flock Hymnal)