The Shortness of Time by C. A. Osgood

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1885

The Shortness of Time.

By C. A. Osgood

"THIS I say, brethren, the time is short." Time is a very small fragment of eternity. The eternal past, and the eternal future, what finite mind can comprehend? Compared with eternity, the six thousand years of time dwindle to a point; they are short indeed. And if we compare the seventy or eighty years that some men now live, with the thousands that are past, how short is a life-time! Or, if we compare the period of the life-time of men now with that of those who lived before the flood, truly we may exclaim, "The time is short."

But when we look upon the future in the light of prophecy, this statement of the apostle is most emphatically true. We have reached that period in the history of the world when the four universal kingdoms represented by the four beasts of the seventh chapter of Daniel are in the past. The little horn of the fourth beast has had its rise and triumph, and its dominion has been taken away, to consume it unto the end. See Dan. 7:26. We have evidently reached "the time of the end" (Dan. 12:4), when, it was predicted, many should run to and fro, and knowledge should be increased.

The time has come when the signs in the heavens were to show that the second coming of our Lord would soon take place. These were to appear soon after the close of the great papal persecution, which threatened to destroy all the people of God. Matt. 24:22, 29. These signs were fulfilled by the darkening of the sun and moon in 1780, and the falling of the stars in 1833. And now we have right before our eyes "distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." Luke 21:25, 26. Our Saviour said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Verse 28. And "when ye shall see all these things, know that it [margin, he] is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:33. Thus we see that we are living in the very latest period of this world's history. That which remains of probationary time is short indeed. Truly "the end of all things is at hand." How carefully then ought we to live; how diligent should we be, to prepare to meet our Lord in peace.

In view of the shortness of time, Paul said: "It remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it." 1 Cor. 7:29-31. This is as though he had said, Let not the affections of men for their wives hinder them from a faithful improvement of time, in laboring diligently for the spread of truth, and the salvation of souls; and let not sorrow be permitted to weigh down our minds so as to prevent us from performing the important duties God requires to be done during the brief period allotted us here. Nor should buying or selling so engross our minds that we should fail to lay up treasure in Heaven. They that use this world should use it as not abusing it; but most men—yes, most professed Christians—do abuse the things of the world.

Some plants that are only fit to grow wild are extensively cultivated, bought, and sold, to the great detriment of those who use them. Many of God's blessings are turned into curses by a wrong use of them. Many things useful in themselves are idolized, and so made the cause of untold suffering. But we are too near the Judgment to thus squander our Lord's property, and abuse his gifts. The talents the Master has intrusted to us should be so improved that when he returns he may say to each one of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." C. A. Osgood.