Delayed obedience is simply disobedience. (iStock photo)
Procrastination is the devil's best friend. The devil knows that delayed obedience is disobedience. The devil knows "tomorrow" never comes.
Many people have missed salvation not because they rejected it, but because the devil convinced them to just put it off for a little while. He convinced young people that they have plenty of time. He convinced others to wait because of relationships or pet sins they were not ready to forsake. The devil knows there will never be a more perfect opportunity to follow Jesus than when He calls.
Have you ever heard someone quote the verse that says, "Today is the day of salvation?" Actually there is no such verse in the Bible. Second Corinthians 6:2 actually says, "Now is the day of salvation" (emphasis added). To say "today is the day" is not urgent enough.The time is now!
If a person is drowning, he doesn't need to be rescued sometime today. He needs to be rescued now! When Jesus calls, He doesn't mean "get back to Me sometime today." He means answer now! Don't procrastinate! Don't wait! Respond immediately, forsake everything that holds you back and follow Jesus! Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Let me take a moment to especially address those who have the evangelistic calling as I do. Jesus said to that young man in Luke 9:60, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But you go and preach the kingdom of God." When it comes to God's will for your life, this matter of answering God's call is especially urgent for those who have been called to preach the gospel.
Imagine that you are a doctor. In fact, you are the best doctor in the whole country, and there is a deadly plague sweeping through. All around you people are dying left and right. You are the only one who knows how to cure the disease. You are the only one who has the vaccine. You are rushing to the hospital to save hundreds of patients who are on their deathbeds when someone on the side of the road calls out, "Hey, you. Come over here and help us bury these dead bodies." You would reply, "I'm sorry. I cannot help you. I'm too busy saving lives to bury bodies."
My friend, we have the most critical of all mandates. All around us people are perishing by the millions. We have the answer for the plague of sin and death. "Little children, it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18, NIV). The need could not be more urgent, and the time could not be more appropriate. There are a lot of good causes that need someone's attention, but none are more important than the call to preach the gospel. We need to let someone else do the "good" things while we stay focused on the most important thing—winning souls! We are not called to bury the dead—we are called to raise the dead!
Note: This Bible study was taken from Chapter 14 of Daniel Kolenda's book, Live Before You Die.
