It's Time To Get On The Bus

Eastford Baptist Church
September 14, 2006

It’s Time to Get on the Bus

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1-3)

Dawn Robinson was a committed Christian who worked for Morgan Stanley on the 61rst floor of the World Trade Center the day of the terrorist attacks five years ago. While at work, she had talked about Jesus many times with her friend and coworker, Cassie. Cassie’s response was always the same, “You know I’m really searching, but I don’t think I’m ready to get on the bus yet.” On the morning of September 11 Dawn was at her desk when the first jet hit the other tower. There was an announcement over the building’s speakers for everyone to remain in their offices. But Dawn heard an inner voice that told her to leave immediately. She started down the stairs and when she was in the 44th floor the jet hit her building. In her own words she said, “At that point, people were screaming and then hysteria broke out. There was smoke covering us. There was water coming down. So some of us were yelling, just go! Go fast! Because you’re scared to death, you know you’re up 40 flights and it’s going to take a long time to get down. I just kept praying very loudly, ‘God, please protect us. Jesus, be with us.’ Finally when we got to the second level, that’s also the street level, we found some doors that we could get out.” In the confusion she found her friend Cassie, and as they ran away, the first tower collapsed. As the wall of dust rushed toward them, they found a deserted city bus and they quickly boarded it to find protection from the dust and debris. As they huddled together and prayed and cried with tears streaming down their blackened faces, they realized except for the mercy of God they might have died with the others in the buildings. Cassie understood she had come close to facing an eternity without Christ, so right there on a city bus, the girl who had said she wasn’t ready to get on the bus yet, gave her heart to Jesus Christ.

One of the schemes of the enemy is to trick us into thinking we always have more time in the future to deal with big decisions. He does this so that we ultimately waste our time away and stand unprepared when time finally runs out. Procrastination is one of the devil’s favorite weapons. He knows that a rich man can buy no more time than a poor man. There are 60 minutes in an hour, 1,440 minutes in a day, 10,080 minutes in a week, and 43,200 minutes in a month. It’s a foolish person who puts off making a decision to walk with the Lord and invest his time in frivolous activities. That’s why Scripture says don’t procrastinate - “Now is the Time of God’s Favor” - “Now is the Day of Salvation.” There’s urgency conveyed in these words. Tomorrow may not be available to you – to me – to anyone. And the Bible doesn’t use these words as a scare tactic. The Lord is not attempting to scare you into responding to His call. Just the opposite – in His great love - The Lord wants all of us to understand there is coming a moment when the bus will no longer be available – so we need to respond immediately and climb on board today.

Are you ready to get on the bus? Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. You may be under the conviction of the Holy Spirit right now, and that conviction may never be stronger than it is right now. Respond to the Lord’s invitation and climb on board. Now is the Time! Today is the day!

Enjoying the Ride,
PT