TIME IS STILL RUNNING OUT

There is a sober realism woven into the old hymns, a steady reminder that life moves quickly and does not wait for us to feel ready. “Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away,” and again, “Time is filled with swift transition.” These were not songs of speculation about the end of the world, but meditations on the brevity of life and the certainty of accountability. The church once sang them to remember that moments pass, opportunities close, and obedience delayed is obedience diminished (Psalm 90:12).

Jesus did not give signs so His followers could calculate the timing of His final return. Much of what He spoke concerning “signs” had a near and concrete fulfillment in the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem in that generation—just as He said it would (Matthew 24:34). Those warnings were not a prophetic calendar for later centuries, but a call to repentance, faithfulness, and watchfulness in the face of imminent judgment. To read them rightly is not to speculate endlessly, but to learn how seriously Christ takes obedience in every generation.

Yet the urgency remains—not because we are decoding headlines, but because life itself is fleeting. Scripture presses the same truth repeatedly: our days are short, our strength fades, and tomorrow is never guaranteed (James 4:13-14). The question is not, “When will Christ return?” but rather, “How shall we live today in light of His lordship?” Time runs out for every person, every generation, and every opportunity to respond faithfully to the grace of God.

The danger for us is not failed prophecy, but spiritual delay. We assume there will be more time—to forgive, to repent, to obey, to love deeply, to take holiness seriously. But the apostles urged believers to live awake not because the end date was known, but because the call of Christ is always immediate. “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep” (Romans 13:11) is not a timetable—it is a summons to faithful living now.

So let the old hymns speak again. Let them remind us that time does not stop, hearts do not remain soft forever, and faithfulness is never automatic. The clock is always ticking—not toward panic, but toward purpose. To live ready is not to predict the future, but to walk humbly, love sincerely, obey attentively, and finish well. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

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Lord Jesus, help me to live awake and faithful; teach me to use my time wisely, to obey without delay, and to walk before You with reverence and joy. Amen.

BDD