Volume 19, Issue 4 (January 22, 2017)
“Not Now”
By Kyle Pope
The fifth-century theologian Augustine, in his famous
work entitled Confessions described his own attitude as a young man. He
candidly admitted that once he had prayed to God, “Give me purity of body and
self-control—but not now” (8.7, Pope). Few may bare their souls as openly as
Augustine, but I wonder how many may have the same attitude though it remains
unspoken.
We want to be the kind of person
Scripture teaches we should be. We want to be one who “does not stumble in
word,” but in self-control is able to “bridle the whole body” (Jas.
3:2). One day we want to see ourselves as one who is “pure in heart” (Matt.
5:8), that our “whole spirit, soul, and body” might “be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23, NKJV).
But then we look at the world around us. Like the Psalmist we “become
envious of workers of iniquity” (Psa. 37:1) or “envious of the boastful”
when we see “the prosperity of the wicked” (Psa. 73:3). Like the
wise man we become “envious of evil men” and “desire to be with them”
(Prov. 24:1). Or we forget that rebellion against God offers only “the
passing pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25)—it will not last. “For all that
is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away,
and the lust of it” (1 John 2:16-17a).
So like Augustine we envision a time when
we will be what God would have us to be, but we tell ourselves, “I’m not quite
ready!” Perhaps we assume, like Felix one day we will have, “a convenient
time” (Acts 24:25), but convenience is an illusion. For everything we ought
to do there are always distractions and other responsibilities that could keep
us from acting. It is only when we decide to do what we should in spite of
these hindrances that we consider something convenient. Perhaps we delay
because we imagine one day the temptations that draw us to the world will lose
their hold on us. But that’s like imagining the bug will be drawn less to the
light of the “bug zapper” if it flies just a little longer! Solomon said, “The
eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecc.
1:8). Temptations that control us today won’t leave us if we continue in them
tomorrow.
Some delay because they aren’t ready to
turn away from sin. They want to “sew their wild oats” while they are
young—“There will be time to turn from sin when I am older,” they say to
themselves. The preacher of Ecclesiastes taught to, “Remember now your
Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the
years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecc. 12:1).
Youth is wasted in sin, not preserved. The young person who surrenders
innocence to a life of sin quickly becomes an older man or woman hardened to
sin. They become “past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to
work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph. 4:19) with a “conscience
seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:2). Peter tells souls who would truly
turn from sin we have “spent enough of our past lifetime” in such
wickedness (1 Pet. 4:3).
Jesus taught that those who would follow
Him should “count the cost” and recognize what being a disciple truly
demands (Luke 14:28-33). Some may say “not now,” because they fear they have not
truly committed to follow Christ. Doubts may fill their minds. Is there really
a God? Is being a Christian really worth it? We must resolve our doubts if we
are truly to follow Christ. It may be our bond to family and friends that holds
us firmly to the world. If I obey the gospel am I condemning my unbelieving
family? Do I have the courage to stand alone? Jesus taught in the same passage,
“whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke
14:33). Following Christ is a serious commitment. It will demand sacrifice. It
may compromise relationships with family and friends, but delay won’t take any
of this away—it only makes our ultimate choices even more difficult.
The most serious problem with Augustine’s
foolish prayer was the assumption it made. Like many young people, he assumed
he still had time to be able to change. Do any of us have that assurance? Jesus
warned of the foolish builder who was not “rich toward God”—he assumed
he had, “many goods laid up for many years” and could take his “ease;
eat, drink, and be merry.” Little did he know the night he spoke he would
die (Luke 12:6-21). Could it be true of you, as it was of this man, “This
night your soul will be required of you”?
Recently the employer of one of our members
began his workday just like any other day. In the blink of an eye, an
automobile accident took his life with no warning. It is not being an alarmist
to recognize that could happen to any one of us. Are we ready? If you have
allowed yourself to delay obeying the gospel thinking, “one day, but not
now!”—If you have obeyed the gospel, but are not growing in Christ in faithful
service to God saying, “I will, but not now!” Delay no longer. There is no
better time than now. Heed the words of Paul, “Behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2b).
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