WEEK FOUR: NOW

We all put off doing things that we don’t want to do or don’t enjoy doing, but often it’s not just the things we don’t enjoy doing that we put off.  A study from the American Psychological Society states that 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. Another study showed that this trend of procrastination goes up among college students, with 50% being chronic procrastinators, 75% calling themselves procrastinators, and 80–95% of college students actually procrastinating by putting things off until the last minute. There are varying reasons given for why this is so widespread, but the reality is… we all procrastinate. But what if our procrastination has real consequences?

In Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids, Jesus was illustrating the urgency of being prepared for his return. The Bible tells us that no one knows the time for his return, when he will receive his Church to spend eternity with him. So Jesus is telling us that we must be ready at all times. We don’t have the luxury of saying, “I’ll get around to it later” or “I’ve got time” because his return could happen at any time. Many assume that they can deal with their faith later, but what if later never comes?

Leonard Ravenhill (a British evangelist and author) once said, “The opportunities of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” In other words, don’t wait because the opportunity will not last. 2 Peter 3:9-10 is clear; it tells us that it is not God’s intention that anyone should perish or be destroyed but that everyone would come to repentance, but it also tells us that Jesus’ return is imminent and that it will come unexpectedly.

So how do we prepare now? How do we live urgently, expecting the return of Jesus? Live for eternity today. Evaluate your spiritual life. If Jesus returned today, would you be ready? Stay consistent in your relationship with Jesus. Faith is not a one-time decision. It is a daily choice. Stay faithful! Even if it feels like life is just dragging on, share the Good News with others. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but is expecting us to invite others to join us.

If you knew that today was the last day, how differently would you live? Would you make the decision to accept God’s forgiveness through Jesus and follow him? Would you make sure your relationship with Jesus was white hot and on point? Would you go tell everyone you could about God’s love for them and the good news of Jesus? Since we don’t know when that will be, let’s live with an expectant urgency of Jesus’ return and live everyday as if could be the last.