There are two aspects relating to the urgency for repentance. The first is to do with our own life — our own personal timeline — and the second is to do with God’s timeline.

Our own lifespan is more or less within our control, right? At least we think so. We tend to live expecting we will go on for quite some time yet, postponing important things to deal with temporary things. Expecting we’ll have a chance to consider God and change our ways before the end. If we’re honest, we would agree that reality doesn’t always afford us such opportunities.

Regarding God’s timeline, he has made it clear throughout the Bible that the world as we know it is going to come to an end. He is outworking a plan involving the whole earth and all humanity, and he’s working to a deadline that only he knows. Jesus explained that only God knows the day and time of the end:

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

— Jesus (The Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, verse 36)

So, in both timelines — God’s timeline for humanity and our own personal timeline — we see two common aspects: We don’t know when it will end, and; We need to be ready before it ends.

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

— Jesus (The Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, verses 42 to 44)

This is a clear warning for us to be ready and we need to be ready in advance — before it happens. Certainly, when God draws the curtain on this age, there won’t be any time available to change our ways, to turn our life around. God has already given us ample warning some two thousand years ago. Please don’t allow this long delay to lull you into thinking it’s not going to happen.

In chapters 24 and 25 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus talks to his disciples in some detail about God’s end-of-days plan. There is enough detail in there to see that in our modern age we are getting very close to that moment Jesus is talking about. We need to be especially ready because of these last days we are living in. Now is the time to turn back to God!