Today’s Scripture Reading (April 29, 2018): Revelation 10
Procrastination, a human idiosyncrasy. The
ability to put off what should be done today so that it can be done tomorrow, or the next day, or maybe
never. I think all of us procrastinate at least a little bit, but probably for
very different reasons. Sometimes, some things
just rank higher on our list of
importance, and so what is unimportant is put off for another time. Sometimes
were are mentally or physically tired and simply do not have the energy for the
task at hand. And then, of course, some of us like me, are just lazy. Our motto is often “why do something today when it can just as easily be
done tomorrow or the next day – or never.”
Please do not take my next words as
sacrilegious, but that brings me to another question. We believe that we are created in the image of God, does that mean
that God procrastinates? Okay, I am sure that God does not procrastinate as we
do. He doesn’t “not do” something because he is too lazy or too tired to do it.
Yet there are those of us who believe
that God sometimes chooses not to do something. Usually,
the focus of the discussion around God’s procrastination is on his return and
the possible end of the earth that seems to be the subject of at least part of
John’s Revelation. The question that leads down this avenue of thinking is “why
has Jesus not returned to the earth?” Peter gives us part of the answer.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. Instead he is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The
heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements
will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:9-10).
God has procrastinated his return because there was
something more important to him than doing what it is that he has committed to do – and that something is us. He wants to give
us every opportunity to prepare for a future with him rather than one without him.
(By the way, discard all of those thoughts of hellfire and the idea of burning
for eternity. The reality is much worse. God will, in the end, give us what we
want and that will be either eternity with him, or without him. We have no idea
what an existence totally devoid of God could be really like. Even some famous atheists are bothered by that question
because without at least the idea of God, there can be no morality and the
result, these atheists argue, would be a fascism
worse than any this world has ever known.)
But the time is coming when the procrastination of God
will end. Peter says the Lord will come like a thief in the night. John
maintains that angel who is standing on the sea and land will eventually speak
that there can be no more delays, and will do so swearing on the name of the
one who lives forever, and who has delayed things up until this moment.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Revelation 11
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