Matthew 4:17

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Any person who has not repented of his sins means, he is still living in the darkness. Jesus Christ was preaching to the people those who were living in darkness to repent as though the kingdom of heaven was coming in that moment. It is the kind of haste one needs to live in expecting the kingdom of God any moment.

What does an unrepentant person or a nation do? They have no sense of urgency in matters related to Lord Jesus Christ. They are busy with the worldly passions and desires. Because in their mind(s) they think that the world will last forever. The Bible declares that the earth and everything in it will pass away. Every person born into the world will one day pass away. The common saying, “time flies” is so true. The time that each person gets to live on this earth is limited. Every person needs to use his or her given time by God wisely. Because we all have to give an account of what we do in this life to God who brought forth this creation.

When Jesus began to preach that the kingdom of heaven is coming soon, many perhaps could not understand, what He was saying. It is pretty much like today’s generation. They have no clue and won’t be able to grasp what it means to repent. People living in darkness for many generations will have a hard time understanding who Christ is. It takes courage for a person to come forward and claim that he is now living in the light of Jesus Christ. Of course it is the work of Holy Spirit to draw someone near to God.

Living in haste is important for a Christian believer. Every born again believer has to learn to live like the penitent thief crucified on the cross next to Jesus Christ. He asked Jesus Christ to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. Why? Because he knew that he did not have a lot of time to live. Given the remaining time, he decided to ask Jesus to save him from death to life. You see, no one knows when the Lord will return. He may come now, He may come tomorrow. Every Christian believer must be prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what time of the day or night it is going to be.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!