Some time back I read an article encouraging people to "seize the moment." The idea behind the statement is to do good things as opportunities present themselves; don't put them off until some supposed better time. It could be simple, little pleasures or more important, more profound opportunities. The point is, we commonly put things off until a more ideal time, and we often end up losing the moment and the opportunity. How many joys are missed and pleasures not enjoyed simply because we thought we couldn't do something right then?
Think about it. How many times have you put off doing something you really wanted to do until some imagined time in the future when circumstances would be just right, or at least better? I read of a man who going through the things of his deceased wife. In one drawer he found some especially fine lingerie that she had bought. She was saving it to wear on some really special occasion. It had never been worn, for she died before any such occasion came along.
How many times have your children asked you to play with them only to have you put them off until a better time, when you were not so tired or when you'd have more time or when a program that you wanted to watch on TV was not on? Have you ever wished you had some of those opportunities back? How often has your husband or wife tried to say something to you, only to have you "shush" them up because you were listening to something on TV? A leading cause of divorce in our nation is a breakdown in communication between husbands and wives.
How often have you been asked to go to lunch or go somewhere or do something with someone who cared about you, only to automatically respond with some reason why you couldn't do it? How many trips to see grandma get put off until a better time? How many places that you really want to see never get visited because you're always waiting for better circumstances?
The same thing happens in our spiritual lives. How often have you put off calling or visiting or sending a card to someone who was sick or shut in, only to find out they were better, or maybe had died, before you got around to it? How often have you thought about contacting a brother or sister who was missing services, or seemed to be struggling spiritually, but they stopped coming altogether before you found the time? How often were you asked to make a visit to someone who needed some attention, only to respond with some reason why you couldn't do it? How many have meant to "start back to church," only to sink deeper into unfaithfulness? How many parents have talked about "going back to church," getting their children in Bible class, but never did and the kids grew up without the Lord, maybe ending up in serious trouble? How many people have said, "I know what I need to do..." but never did, and died lost?
The apostle Paul gave us an important truth to remember when it comes to our spiritual obedience: "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). The principle behind that truth makes the point of this article. We have the moment at hand. It is the only time of which we are assured. Take hold of it, make the most of it. Use it while you have it. Do what you need to do and what you should do while you have the opportunity. Serve the Lord now, for you don't know if such a time will present itself again. Seize the moment...
- via the Nile Street Notes, the weekly bulletin of the Anna Church of Christ in Anna, IL; R. W. McAlister preaches for the congregation and may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
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