We waste time; we spend time; we mark time; we kill time; and sometimes we do time.
Time passes us by; time is on our side; and we can’t save time in a bottle.
Too often we’re waiting for a free moment; someday, we’ll get around to it; we put off until tomorrow what could be done today. One of these days is an important phrase in our vocabulary. In fact, many of us would wait until tomorrow to start procrastinating if we could!
One Spanish proverb reminds us, Manana is often the busiest day of the week.
And in this area, we may find some words of wisdom from, of all people, Joan Baez, who said, You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you’re going to live. Now. I doubt Ms. Baez had eternal salvation in mind when she made that statement, but when it comes to deciding how you’re going to live eternally, now is certainly the time for making some important choices.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus speaks to us on the topic of punctuality. In the parable given, Christ warns of being tardy. Let’s read verses 1-12 of Matthew 25:
Then the kingdom of Heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”
But the prudent answered, saying, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
And later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.”
But he answered and said, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”
Look at what Jesus has to say in verse 13: Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
While punctuality may seem to be a minor part of the education of our youth, it sure seems to be important to our Savior. Our time should obviously be spent in preparation for the day of judgment.
David B. Norris made the statement, How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever.
There is a warning here for anyone who has not obeyed the gospel. It is a warning that you may not have another opportunity to do so. In chapter 24, Christ makes this all too clear. In verse 36, He makes the claim, Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. This is a strong statement and should be more than enough to convince us of the importance of making preparations now. This should be more than enough to convince us to obey the gospel tonight. And this should be more than enough to convince us to stay ready for the coming of the Son of Man.