Don't Waste Another Day!

I wonder how you are approaching your preparation for today. Will it be like any other day; same routine, not much thought or effort put into it? After all, what could possibly change, right, aside from some unexpected disaster? And who can live life expecting a disaster every day? No, it is better to live life as it unfolds, enjoying the moment, making adjustments as we need to make them, never worrying over the things we can't anticipate. Something like eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die? A bit too much? Possibly. I am trying to make the point that often we do not put much thought into our day and into our actions. Some days we live as if we have no purpose, instead acting as if we are some tiny one celled creature being carried around by the currents of life.

The fact is, we have a purpose and we had better get to it because our allotted time is running out. Perhaps we have forgotten that Jesus is coming back for us because we act like we have all kinds of time to complete our mission. Perhaps you are listening to the scoffers in the world who laugh at our anticipation of Jesus' return. Peter warned that after some time people would begin to taunt us, and that was a little under 2,000 years ago, and here we are still anticipating:

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:3-4)

We should never be surprised at the world's unbelief but we had better be shocked at the Church's. It is not good enough to just believe in the work of the cross, we have to believe in the promise of the empty grave. Believing in this promise is the motivation of our mission. Jesus is returning for his Bride and this will mark the beginning of the end for the world, because after this will follow the judgment. Our mission, given to us by Jesus, is to help as many people into the Kingdom as we can before this day arrives. If we forget the promise of his return we will also forget the day reserved for judgment:

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:5-7)

The world has forgotten but hopefully we haven't. This must remain fresh on our hearts so there will be a sense of urgency with each day, so we will not waste one opportunity given to us to present Jesus to those who need to be saved from this destruction. It is real and it is approaching and it will engulf all those you love and care for who have not accepted Jesus' free gift of salvation. Love must be their motivation in accepting Jesus or it won't last, but dread of their destruction should be our motivation to overcome any fear we have of telling them about Jesus.

We need to be careful that we do not get lulled into thinking that it will not happen in our life-time. Just because it has not happened in 2,000 years does not mean today is not the day. There is a reason why he has delayed for so long:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)

He is patient so that we can help as many people as possible, but are you wasting this patience? Again, I ask you about your preparation today. Do you have scripture at hand to share with anyone who will need it today? Are you alert and attentive to the prompting of the Spirit? Do you have a New Testament tucked away somewhere for when you need it? Are you prepared to share the good news of Jesus? It is our mission, our purpose, and the urgency should be prompting us into action today and every day until his return. Contrary to what you may think, we do not have a lot of time and today could be your last opportunity. Don't waste it!