MY COMPUTER APPOINTMENT program sounded the alarm on a day in the first week of October in 2005. As scheduled—and as I expected, right on time—it notified me that I needed to start thinking about writing what actually became the bulk of this very article. I was not surprised by the notification, and in fact I welcomed it. My computer began that day to encourage me to get ready for an important deadline, and successive, daily reminders would follow until I cancelled the notice.
A notification arrived on my computer screen each following day: “Article due October 12.” I acknowledged the reminder each day, pressed snooze, and then went about other work. After reading the first few daily notices, I told myself something like, “Yep, it’s time to start coming up with something to write about.” But as the days passed, I began thinking something like, “I really need to get started on that.”
The notices came day after day, and I conceded the need each day as I read them. But I took no action. The notices eventually turned from, “. . . due October 12,” to, “. . . due Wednesday,” and still I had not started the article. Then much to my discomfort, when I started my computer the morning of October 12, a notice popped up on my screen to tell me firmly, “. . . due today!”
I knew of only one thing to do. I had to call and ask for a time extension. That was an unpleasant thing, but as embarrassing as it was, I did it. Then after getting home that evening I worked late into the night to finish this article. I had to turn it in by e-mail first thing the next morning. In the article I told the readers, “There won’t be time to proof and edit the article several times to my satisfaction over a few days—as is my habit. I now must get it done quickly and get it out the door.”
“I have legitimate reasons for letting time slip up on me,” I continued to write. “I’ve been busy. Life has recently been pretty complicated. There were other things I had to do. And because of the busyness of the day, I didn’t even turn on my computer yesterday to get that so important ‘. . . due tomorrow’ warning."
Like other well-intentioned people, I have what I feel are some good excuses for my shortcomings, but ultimately that is all they are—excuses. Regardless of the reasons, regardless of the good excuses, not one of them changes the results of my failure to properly meet an obligation. And now I must pay the consequences.
After reading that morning’s notice, one of the first thoughts that went through my mind (that is, after, “Oh no!”) was, “Time is up!” I then began to cogitate on the seriousness of that phrase—especially in light of eternity. You see, throughout history, and often much to the sorrow of those upon whom those words have fallen, the words, Time is up! have been declared over and over.
Nations were warned of impending judgment. Individuals were reminded of their responsibilities. People were cautioned that they must prepare their souls for the day when they will have no more time to do so. But all too often, history reveals that calls to repentance went unanswered; individuals did not fulfill their responsibilities, and people failed to prepare their souls. Time was up, and it became too late to do any of it.
Nearly since time began, preachers have counseled people and shared God’s Word about such things. God has called prophets to warn people of judgments to come upon those who refuse to respond to God’s calls. Throughout the ages, Bible teachers have faithfully taught people about God and His ways. God has appealed to all generations to repent, be saved, and bring themselves into conformance with the standards that He intends to use to foster life in us. But all too often people have not always responded in time.
My mind is drawn to the story of the rich farmer who busied himself with his work. It was good work, and he was good at it. He planted his crops and filled his barns with the fruit of his labor. Eventually, since his barns could not hold all of his possessions, he decided he would tear down the old barns and build bigger ones. However, just as he was imagining how he would then finally have enough to be able to take a step back from his work in order to “eat, drink, and be merry,” his life ended.
According to that story told by Jesus, God said to the man:
You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? (Luke 12:20 NIV)
The “fool” was not a lazy man; he was industrious. He had worked hard for what he owned. It took years of labor to accumulate his possessions. But in only a moment, he was separated from all of it.
Using that story, Jesus warned His disciples to not be consumed with gaining anything this world has to offer at the cost of losing everything that God has to give to those who trust and follow Him.
That the man had undoubtedly disregarded all warnings that he should do what God required. He had not drawn near to or followed closely after God and His ways even though he surely had opportunities. And the man had ignored all the reminders that the Holy Spirit surely gave to him of the importance of gaining the eternal riches that God has to share with His followers.
Jesus said:
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21 NIV-1984)
Unexpectedly, the moment came in the man’s life when those dreaded words rang out: Time is up!
And it was.
There is a moment coming when time will be up for us, too. At that moment it will be too late to make up for failures, lost opportunities, or a past that can never be taken back.
“Unlike this present opportunity, in which I am making up for not starting on this work sooner,” I said to my readers that day, “there is coming a time when you and I will have no more hours to use for either catching up or making up for anything.”
Hopefully, on the day when time really is up for each of us, there will be no regrets. But it’s certainly up to us, isn’t it?
The account you must give to God for your life—it’s due on . . .
This article is an edited excerpt from L. Edward's book, Weekly Cogs: Christian Thoughts and Cogitations.
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