The Danger in Delay

            Someone has written, “procrastinators have a WAIT problem”.  While we might find these words somewhat amusing, they can be quite serious - - especially when it comes to failing to make a decision that can impact where we spend eternity.  It’s one thing to put off some mundane project (cleaning out the garage, changing the oil in the car, starting a diet, etc), but it’s quite another thing to put our faith “on hold”.  Nothing has more dire consequences than putting off putting on Christ.  The apostle Paul reminds us that it is in the act of baptism that one becomes “clothed with Christ” (Gal.3:26-27).  God has extended to us all a grand invitation to come to the feast, and we dare not reject it (Lk.14:16-24).

            In the last days of Judaism, many would-be followers of Christ were hesitating in putting their trust in Jesus as the Messiah.  The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews repeatedly issues a sober warning:  TODAY if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts  (Heb.3:7-8;  3:15  and 4:7).  The writer reminds them (and us) of those who disobeyed in the days of Moses and the exodus from Egypt:  “and so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief” (Heb.3:19).    

            Moses’ declaration, “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years…” (Ps.90:10), is followed by a prayer: “so teach us to number our days, that we might present to Thee a heart of wisdom” (Ps.90:12).  The focus of numbering one’s days is not so much on counting them as it is on making them count.  Most all of us have stood at the grave of someone who died unexpectedly and/or prematurely.  The sadness of such an early demise is only magnified if and when our friend or loved one has died with “good intentions”, spiritually speaking.  May it be our aim that we will not fall short of doing THE MOST IMPORTANT (Lk.10:41-42), by shirking or shrinking back. 

                                                                                                                                                                 Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ