Our Time by Raymond F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 18, 1886

Our Time.

By Raymond F. Cottrell

TO-DAY is passing. We intend to do our work. We hope to hear the "well done." But are we doing? Past moments and hours cannot be recalled. To-morrow may not be ours. The present is all we have, and all that we can claim. Are we filling the present moments well? Are we doing duty now? If we are not employing the present moment, how can we hope to accomplish our work? Let us heed the call to labor. It will soon be too late. Every lost day is increasing the probability that all our time will be wasted, and we shall have to take up the sad lamentation,—Too late! too late! The harvest is past, and the summer is ended! Our time has been wasted, and we are lost!

If we would have any reasonable hope that it will not be so with us, upon what can it be founded but upon the fact that now we are doing our duty, drawing near to God, actively engaged in filling up the present time in the performance of duty?

A great work is to be done. Our sins must be overcome, and we must have a preparation from God to labor in his cause. We must have Christ within, that we may confess him to others. We must be living examples of what the grace of God in Christ can do for men. We must have the Spirit's power to accompany our testimony and bear it to the hearts of others. We must have the refreshing, and not always live in hope of it. The wrestling, agonizing ones will obtain it. It will not come unasked. It must come in a way to be prized. And it will come as soon as we are ready.

Let us then get ready. Let us seek God with the whole heart. Let us consider that the time we have, though exceeding short, is of immense value to us, since eternity depends upon our improvement of it. Let us be wise. Let us improve to-day. R. F. COTTRELL.