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This saying, found on a carved sign on display in a beautiful garden, is ascribed to the famous poet and author Robert W. Service.

Is it really later than we think? Time does rush by so quickly, and before we know it, it seems that our life has flown by, and we must now consider what we want to do before it is over. What should be the result of being awakened by this truth? Should it be merely to fully enjoy every moment of the rest of our life?

If you ask several different people how they find enjoyment and happiness, you will probably get several different answers. There are some who find joy in doing good, in seeking the welfare of others. There are some who want to laugh and to make others laugh. Some turn to sports, movies, the arts, and other recreation to find their enjoyment. Still others seem to find their only enjoyment in doing wickedly, enjoying the pleasures of immorality or violence.

Now which of these do you think are the better citizens? I have no doubt your answer will be, “Those who find joy in doing good, in seeking the welfare of others.” You will probably consider the other groups as harmless except for the last group, and over these you might shake your head and wonder what can be done about all this corruption and violence!

But which group do you suppose God looks upon with approval and says, “These are Mine”? You may be surprised at this, but God does not approve of any of them as such, for “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all need the divine righteousness that comes only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By nature man leaves God out of his thoughts, and by practice he lives to please himself. However, in patience and faithfulness God warns us in many ways that it is later than we think, and would convince us that true enjoyment is found only in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Worldly joy fades into insignificance when compared to the joy found in Him which is truly satisfying and abiding for time and eternity. Faith in Christ as personal Saviour imparts to the soul what Peter speaks of when he writes: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). The Psalmist David joyfully anticipates the future with the Lord in these words: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Many have been stopped in their whirl of activity when faced with the saying: “It is later than you think!” to determinately turn aside and seek some long desired enjoyment before it is too late. Their decision is wisely made as far as it goes. However, to ignore the true and eternal joys of spiritual value is absolute folly. The Lord Jesus asks: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

“It is later than you think!” Every second you spend without Christ is depriving you of true joy and peace even now. Should death overtake you, your portion will be eternal torment (Luke 16:23-26).

“It is later than you think!” The Lord’s coming is at hand, and salvation’s day of grace will suddenly end. God will then no longer offer His gift of eternal life to you (2 Corinthians 6:2; Romans 6:23).

“Enjoy yourself” both now and in eternity by believing on the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for you, and thus possess the joy of sins forgiven and peace with God through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20; 1 John 1:7). —F. G. Bonser

Jesus says to you: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly…. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 10:10; 15:11).

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