THE TIME IS FULFILLED



THE TIME IS FULFILLED

"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" Mark 1:14-15

Jesus had no new message for His generationother than to draw their heart to obey that which has been written, the Gospel! This is the power of God for deliverance and through which the righteousness of God is reveled to mankind, Rom.1:16-19
Jesus was speaking to the mixed multitudes of Galilee with the message of the gospel for everyone's action before it gets too late for help.

His first point of emphasis was for National repentance. Like the cities of Nineveh, Sodom and Gomorrah, the cry of the "great sin" of idolatry and wickedness has reached upto God and the time for its judgment was fulfilled, unless an urgent act of repentance, conforming witt the gospel was enforced.

"The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city...
The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence. For when the Lord tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin. And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.(2Kings 17:9,20-23-NLT)

But beside the Nation, many of the attitudes and responses of the people (like generation) to God and His commandments  runs foul of God's instructions hence, needing urgent repentance. Some of these responses include:  Study to Show Thyself!

A. Skepticism
The message of the gospel is for everyone and will be a judge over whatever category individuals belong. To the skeptic who is doubtful about the truth of the gospel. There's nothing God has not done to prove His word and revealing Himself to man.  What glaring Evidences, men's heart and hardened to believe the gospel that forgiveness and eternal reconciliation awaits those who accept Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour and eternal damnation to those who rebel or holds the truth of God in unrighteous, yet the skeptic's response to God's offer of mercy remains " can this things be simply so?" Thereby refusing to take advantage of it. Even some disciples who have being with Him said "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: Luke 24:21" in unbelief. And others mockingly said, Let Him come down now from the cross and we will see and believe".

To the skeptic about God, His nature, His judgements and commandments, Jesus is saying, it's Time to repent and Believe the Word of God.

To those waiting for Christ or an angel to come and tell them that the Bible is the Truth and should be received and obeyed as written" the Lord warns that that would not happen, like He said to the Rich man:
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:31
Therefore Jesus rebukes skepticism, saying
"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Luke 24:25.

Beloved, the time is Fulfilled!

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7

B. Scoffer
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:3-4;9-10

The bible clearly speaks of a scoffing attitude to  the words and promises of God. This involves jeering, mocking or treating them with contempt or in derision.
Lot in speaking the gospel to save his son in-laws  received a jeering response.
"But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Genesis 19:13-14

This attitude is in affirmation of the scripture that the Time is fulfilled and the next agenda of God- His Judgement -was about to unfold. But, the way out will be to repent and believe the gospel.

C. The Disgruntled
There's also the class of the disgruntled, believers, who have gotten into a sulky state of withdrawal in dissatisfaction. Exclaiming " Where are the promises of the fathers?
The frustration might have risen from some unfulfilled expectations, deception,  persecution, materialism or lack. As this begins to take it's toll, the temptation to shift focus from the soon coming Christ may become imminent, hence, the Lord is saying, watch out! for the judge is at the door! Not to be caught off-guard at His appearing.

"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door" James 5:8-9

D. The Self-indulgent 
The gospel of Jesus also addresses those who are in the state of careless indulgence - an inability to resist gratifications of their whims and desires. This is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans vehemently condemned by God.

It's like the servant appointed to keep watch but abandoned his duty, to eat and be drunken (Luke 12:41-46)- contrary to the warning of Christ to watch, that everyone's works shall be Tried by Fire 🔥"
The Judgment waiting for the indulgent steward was "The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matthew 24:50-51
Like the self indulged King Solomon whom God warned twice, saying "Time up, Repent",1Kings 11:9-11,  Jesus warns us to do the needful while there's still time.

E. The Indifferent 
Many are simply Indifferent in their approach to the gospel. They're cynical, having a bad feeling about it's outcome or are unconcerned, 'do not care' or assume a casual lack of concern with respect to this eternal matters of the Gospel.
To such, whether there be heaven or hell, means nothing to them.

The position of indifference are usually said to be either based on a personal interpretation of the Bible, a self professed knowledge, revelation or both or their critical observation of trends and events in the church and within the religious community.
They may just have been ignorant that Jesus is the author and finisher, the perfect example of Christianity. Jesus is warning that the Time is fulfilled! God by Jesus Christ shall begin to judge the secrets of men, because:

" The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

Hence, that The Time is Fulfilled could imply: 
1. Don't Take Grace for Granted
God's patience is fast eroding(2Cor.6:1-2)

2. Judgment is beginning
The seat of God's judgement is set, hurry, run to safety! Luk.13:34-35, 1Pet.4:17

3. Get business minded
We can't now afford to be careless both in our walk and pursuits of God- 1Thess.5:2-4, Luk.13:33-36

4. Focus, Run the race
Enough of self proposed theories, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily beset us, and let us run with patience, the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Being in such a desperate and perilous times at this End-Time, what should an individual be doing not to fail in the grace of God?

1. BE FOUND IN CHRIST
Our eternal safety requires being found in Christ than Doing a lot to overcome, so that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory (Col. 3:5). There's no life now or in waiting outside of Christ.

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, -- Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:11-12,14

2. SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ABOVE

In this End-Time, your location is tied to where your heart and affections truly are. Else, you can get Choked out of the way. 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

3. PUT YOUR BODY UNDER

Learn more and build spiritual muscles. Maintaining your focus on the race to win.

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things- I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, 1Cornthians 9:24-27 (Emphasis)

4. WATCH AND PRAY
Knowing that the Time Is Fulfilled, the Lord charged us to always Watch and Pray that ye not Enter into Temptation" Luk.22:40
Failure to watch and pray amounts to despising the riches of God's grace, Can make a believer prey to Satan, thereby making Shipwreck of ones hope of Eternal Salvation, peace and bliss with God.
Therefore, Holding faith, and a good conscience; let's make a good warfare in prayer! Amen

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer"    1 Peter 4:7

FINAL WORDS
early beloved, we're in the Final Days and the mystery of iniquity is now -already at work! The gospel had been preached, many are pressing in; taking advantage of God's salvation. Hereafter, the next agenda of God is the judgment.

Would you want to embrace the Gospel by  Accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, or to Re-dedicate your life to God.
Please from your heart, say the following prayer sincerely.
"I....(your name)..do believe that Jesus is the son of God, born of Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost. Suffered and died on the Cross for my sins. And rose again from the dead on the third day. Lord Jesus, I invite you today, come into my heart, take my life, save me and make me your child from today. Thank you Jesus, your Spirit makes me new. I am saved by your grace and washed by your blood. Amen

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