Time Is Precious by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 29, 1875

Time Is Precious.

By R. F. Cottrell

WE are hastening to the Judgment. Each has an individual case to be decided. The decision will be eternal. When once made it never can be reversed. It will be life or death, saved or lost, eternal life or everlasting destruction. And this momentous and everlastingly irreversible decision depends upon the manner in which we spend a brief period of time—the little while that lies between us and the decisive moment. Eternal destinies hang upon this little span of time. How important then that it be spent aright! How prodigal to squander the precious moments, the hours, the days, of which it is to be composed!

Precious time! the price of eternity put into our hands! Who of us values it as we ought? I fear I do not. Yet it is my earnest desire and prayer to God that I may value it and improve it as I ought. It is only by the help of divine grace that this can be done. Who is sufficient for this? The answer is, and the only answer, Our sufficiency is of God. He condescends to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask—ask in faith, nothing wavering—and are ready to do the will of God in all things. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.

Prayer and faith and labor must be combined. And he who labors unselfishly for others' good, labors best for himself; and such labor persevered in will not lose its great reward. There must be a constant and enduring effort; but through the help of God we may finally triumph. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. F. COTTRELL.