📅 February 16 – The Time of Grace and the Closing of the Door of Mercy

Monthly Theme: The Great Controversy – The Conflict Between Good and Evil
Year Theme 2026: “Soon the King Is Coming – Hope Beyond the End”

📖 Central Bible Text of the Day

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still;
and he who is unclean, let him be unclean still;
and he who is righteous, let him be righteous still;
and he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
— Revelation 22:11

🌅 Devotional of the Day

We are living in a time of grace —
a period of divine patience,
when heaven still stands open
and the invitation of the gospel still sounds:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden.”
— Matthew 11:28

This time is a gift.
Yet it will not last forever.
The moment will come
when the great plan of redemption is complete
and Christ, in the heavenly sanctuary,
finishes His work as High Priest.

Then the words will be heard:

“It is done.” (Revelation 16:17)
And the door of grace will be closed.

Ellen G. White wrote:

“When Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary ends,
the door of mercy will be closed.
Then every decision for or against Christ will have been made.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 613)

✨ The Time of Grace – An Invitation to Repentance

Since the cross, Christ has been calling the world to reconciliation.
Every breath is a sign of His patience.
The angels wait,
the trumpets of judgment are held back,
because there are still souls to be saved.

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise,
as some count slowness,
but is patient with you,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9

God waits —
not because He delays,
but because His love is immeasurable.

Ellen White wrote:

“The offer of grace is still being made.
Anyone may accept salvation
as long as Christ intercedes in the sanctuary.”
(Christ Triumphant, p. 311)

But this probationary time is not unlimited.
It ends when the character of every person has been revealed.

🌿 The Closing of the Door of Mercy

In the Old Testament there were moments
when mercy ended
because the measure of sin was full (Genesis 6:3; Daniel 5:26–28).
So there will also be a final boundary for this world.

“Then the Lord will say: It is enough.”
— Isaiah 27:8

When Christ lays down His mediatorial work
in the heavenly sanctuary,
no further confession will be accepted.
Then it will be said:

“He who is righteous, let him be righteous still.”
— Revelation 22:11

Each person’s decision will be final.
This is not arbitrary judgment,
but the result of the heart’s own choice.

Ellen White explains:

“When Christ ends His intercession,
there remains no mediator between God and humanity.
Then the righteous must stand without a mediator,
because they have been made complete in Christ.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 614)

🕊️ Preparing for That Moment

Just as Noah prepared the ark,
God today calls His people
to prepare spiritually.
The time of grace is not a time for sleep,
but a time for awakening.

“Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation!”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2

The door of grace does not close suddenly,
but because every decision has matured.
God forces no one.
He honors the free choice of every heart.

Ellen White wrote:

“Every person is deciding today
on which side they will stand
when the door of mercy closes.
Now is the time of preparation.”
(Maranatha, p. 294)

🌄 The Faithfulness of Those Who Are Sealed

When grace ends,
God’s sealed people will be secure —
not because they are strong,
but because Christ lives in them.

“The Lord knows those who are His.”
— 2 Timothy 2:19

In that time faith will be tested as never before.
Yet God’s children will stand firm,
because they learned
to live in grace
before it ended.

Ellen White comforts:

“In the time of trouble,
when there is no longer an intercessor,
the righteous will be preserved by the power of God.
They have confessed their sins,
and their names are written in the book of life.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 620)

🙏 Prayer

Holy Father,
I thank You for the time of grace
in which You are calling me.

Give me a watchful heart
that recognizes how precious each day is.

Help me to live in Your grace today,
to grow in You,
and to be ready when the door closes.

Let me decide now
to stand with You forever.

Amen.

💭 Thought for the Day

“The closing of the door of mercy is not an arbitrary act,
but the moment when every person is reaped
according to the choice they have made.”
— Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 295

💡 Personal Application

1. Read Revelation 22:10–14 and Hebrews 4:14–16.
   Meditate on Christ as your intercessor.

2. Pray: “Lord, teach me to live in the time of grace — alert, grateful, and faithful.”

3. Practical:
   Set aside intentional time today for self-examination and prayer.
   Is there anything you need to confess or make right with God?

🌺 Closing Verse

“Seek the LORD while He may be found;
call upon Him while He is near.”
— Isaiah 55:6