Don't Be Late!

 

        I don’t like being late. In fact, I’m almost always early for appointments. This habit stems from my dad. He was punc-tu-al.

        Mom, on the other hand, most often ran late. No matter how much time she had to prepare, she found more to do before getting out the door. When nearly all set, she’d announce, “I’m almost ready!”

        Dad replied every time, “Ruth, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” using her first name only. By the umpteenth time, however, he’d add her maiden name. Uh oh!

        But Mom didn’t get the hint.

        So, my sister and I grew up hearing Dad yell, “Ruth Holland, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” most times when we headed out. And more than once he told Mom, “You’re gonna be late to your own funeral.”

        When I married Brian, he decided to copy my father, and it became a bit of a joke.

        I’d get ready to go here or there, plop on the couch, and announce, “I’m ready.”

        Brian would smile—and to this day replies, “You’re not ready till you’re in the car.”

        I don’t mind occasional late-comers, but I do get irked by chronic-stragglers if I’m the one waiting for them. This annoyance carries over to doctors’ offices. If I wait more than 2 hours for an appointment (for example), let’s just say I get a bit irked, just like Dad. Maybe more than a bit.

        Should I mention that 2 of our children decided to show up late? Yup. Didn’t those babies care they failed to occupy the fully-prepared nursery on time? The nerve! One kept us on pins-n-needles an extra 9 days. The other? Our 4^th! I mean, who expected #4 to keep us parents in limbo 11 extra days? (I’ve forgiven them.)

        In reality, there are times being tardy doesn’t cause global chaos—just inconvenience. After all, no “water under the bridge”—unless someone’s late because there actually was water under the bridge. That could happen.

        I’m not sure why some people tend to be late-comers. Maybe they think they have plenty of time to get one more thing done—like Mom did. They just don’t realize, as one of my special friends shares, “Time has flies!” (I love the way this friend expresses that idiom.* Don’t you?)

        There’s a time, though, when being late will come with eternal consequences. When thinking there’s plenty of time will make the difference between one’s final destination. No one knows when Jesus is returning to take believers-in-Him to Heaven! There are clues, though, in God’s Word indicating we’re approaching—or actually in—End Times.

        Let me back up a few moments though. Way back to Bible times! 

        There’s a stirring account in the Book of Acts, Chapter 26 where the apostle Paul, at that time 
imprisoned for preaching the Good News about Jesus, stands before King Agrippa to be judged. Agrippa permits Paul to speak, and the apostle takes this opportunity to express his joy in being able to address the king. He also shares about his background in Judaism, experience as a pharisee, and deep guilt in persecuting believers.

        Paul must’ve had a captive audience (ironic, since he was the prisoner) because Agrippa allowed Paul to continue. Thus, the apostle shared his personal testimony and what happened on his way to persecute more believers-in-Jesus:

“…O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Having obtained help from God, I stand to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:13-22

        Also present? Festus, the Roman governor. He shouted at Paul, declaring this prisoner-of-many-words mentally off and driving this political official nuts.

        But Paul wasn’t dissuaded by the governor and affirmed he imparted only truth. He even spoke to Festus on behalf of the king before turning the conversation back to Agrippa. (That took guts. That took God!)

“For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Acts 26:25-26

        Next comes King Agrippa’s tragic response:

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:27

        Paul closes his defense with this challenge:

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:28

        [King Agrippa, you weren’t ready by your own account. You were late. Lost. Your position couldn’t save you, nor could your wealth or heritage.]

        If you’re a person who hasn’t yet accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you’re gambling against time. Oh, sure, you might have plenty of time and choose to wait, but I challenge you to consider your eternal destiny and relationship with the Lord!

        It’s worth taking care of that now and comes with benefits. You’ll have time on this side of eternity to joy in your new-found life in Christ.

        So, dear one, I implore you. Consider this decision before it’s too late.

Plenty of Time written by Clay McLean (released in 1971)

Plenty Of Time - The Galileans - 1973

~and~

Almost Persuaded

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way;
Some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, angels are lingering near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come.

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost,” but lost!

(Almost Persuaded, by Philip P. Bliss who tragically died with his wife

in a fiery train wreck 5 years after writing this hymn in 1871, public domain)

        Right now, you still have time. If you don’t understand how to join God’s family, here’s a video explaining the steps:

Heaven How To Get There

Presented by Rev. Brian Hampshire

#time #toolate #JesusSaviorLord #apostlePaul #KingAgrippa #Acts26 #howtogettoHeaven

*“Time flies.”

Photo Credit: clock—publicdomainpictures.net, Paul with King Agrippa—goodsalt.com, person praying—vecteezy.com

Biblical Passages from NKJV version. Video used with creator’s permission.

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