“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

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Aroldis Chapman throws a fastball that’s consistently clocked at more than 103 mph for the Boston Red Sox. The ball goes from the pitcher’s mound to the plate so fast that most batters struggle to swing quickly enough to make contact. Many hitters strike out within three to five pitches when Chapman is on the mound.

In most cases, major league pitchers have to be able to throw a fastball at least 90 mph and also have the ability to throw off-speed pitches to keep the hitters off balance. Pitchers regularly work on their flexibility, strength and stamina to try to stay ahead of the hitters.

We admire the urgency of hard-throwing pitchers, fielders and hitters with quick hands, and speedy outfielders and base runners. But we tend to be the opposite when it comes to sharing the Gospel. If we want to please God, we need to increase our enthusiasm for bringing the Good News to others.

In the Scriptures, we’re often reminded about the urgency of getting the Gospel message from one person to another through personal encounters. Even though it’s helpful to share the truth through social media, texts, emails and phone calls, a deeper impression is made when we look somebody in the eye and speak specifically about our relationship with God.

The Bible says, “Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation,” (2 Corinthians 6:2b, NLT) to emphasize the importance of coming to Christ immediately if we haven’t already, because we don’t know how much time we’ll have to make that decision. Some people live to be 90 but others don’t make it to old age, so we must think about eternity right now.

As soon as Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, his priorities changed. He no longer lived for himself and his agenda. From that day forward, he urged people to believe in Christ without waiting: “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20b).

Christ and the apostles were motivated by their love for lost souls and also their understanding that every person has a deadline. The criminal on the cross may have known when he was dying and got right with God, but most of us don’t know when we will die. Since the apostles’ hearts overflowed with God’s love, they moved fast to get to people to speak about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Even when Paul was a prisoner, he didn’t focus on escaping. Instead, he kept on telling others about Jesus just as he did when he walked freely. As Paul stood before the ruler Agrippa, he pleaded with him to consider the condition of his eternal soul. “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long — I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains'” (Acts 26:28-29).

We need to feel an urgency to share what we know about Jesus, for eternities hang in the balance. You never know if you’ll see tomorrow, so make sure you are right with the Lord and share with those around you so that they may hear the best news of their lives.

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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