God chooses the right moment in his work to save humanity. It is important to seize the opportunities he offers, both in receiving salvation and in working with him to offer it to others.
Israel had opportunities of salvation
At Sinai
Exodus 19:4–8 God had saved Israel from slavery in Egypt. Now they accepted the opportunity to become his covenant people.
At Shechem
Joshua 24:14–15 After Israel entered Canaan, Joshua challenged them to forsake idolatry and renew the covenant with the LORD.
The coming of Jesus Christ offers a new and urgent opportunity to respond to God
Matthew 3:1–2; Galatians 4:4 See also Matthew 10:7; Mark 1:15; Romans 5:6
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
The message of opportunity continues after the resurrection of Jesus Christ
For Israel
For the Gentiles
Acts 17:30 See also Acts 17:23, Acts 17:31
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
God in his mercy gives opportunity to repent and believe
The urgency of the need to respond to God's opportunity of salvation
2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 4:7 See also Psalm 95:7–8; Isaiah 49:8, Isaiah 55:6–7
For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
God will judge evil at an opportune time
Revelation 14:18 See also Revelation 14:7
Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”
It is possible to refuse the opportunity of salvation, with sad consequences
The lesson of Israel
Numbers 14:8–10; Psalm 95:7–11; 2 Corinthians 6:1–2; Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:7 Hebrews warns Christians not to miss their chance of blessing.
The seriousness of rejecting the good news
Matthew 10:14 parallels Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5; Luke 19:41–42 Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem because the city didn't recognise its opportunity; Acts 13:46–51, Acts 28:25–28
Christians should take every opportunity to tell others the good news
John 4:35 See also Luke 10:2; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Colossians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:15
Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.