Kicking the can down the road

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

There are a few expressions, such as ‘putting it on the long finger’, ‘kicking it into the long grass’ and ‘putting it on the back burner’, which indicate actions and attitudes leading to the delay or postponement of matters which need to be addressed soon or immediately and which require urgent attention. These expressions reflect a careless, lackadaisical attitude which is prepared to put something important off to a later date. The word ‘procrastination’ really means leaving something until tomorrow (the Latin word cras means ‘tomorrow’). In effect, the person is saying, “I know I ought to address this matter urgently, but someday I’ll get round to thinking about it.”

One man characterised by such an attitude is Felix, who, after hearing Paul's preaching, trembled and showed obvious concern, but then he said, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24.25).

My friend, can you think of anything more important than ensuring that you will be in Heaven for eternity? Those eternal, endless ages stand in stark contrast to the few fleeting years of life, and yet many people are obsessed and preoccupied with trivial and temporal things and neglect the salvation of their immortal souls. I urge you to delay no longer but just now to attend to the overwhelmingly important matter of your soul’s salvation. You have no guarantee of tomorrow, the Lord is coming, and the day of grace, this golden age of opportunity, is fast coming to a close. No wonder the Scriptures state, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Corinthians 6.2. “It is time to seek the Lord” Hosea 10.12. “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” Isaiah 55.6. You will never be saved until salvation becomes the priority for you!

The Saviour did not postpone the sufferings He endured and the sacrifice He offered so that you might be saved. He did not try to delay the awful crisis that loomed large as the time approached. The will of God was of paramount importance to Him and the blessing of unworthy sinners so valuable to the Lord Jesus that His death on our behalf could not brook any delay. On the very day foretold centuries before by the prophets, to coincide with the Passover, He arrived at Calvary and “offered Himself without spot to God” Hebrews 9.14. He became answerable for our sins and bore the punishment as if He had been guilty, that we, the guilty, might be pardoned and obtain eternal salvation. “Christ died for the ungodly” Romans 5.6.

He longs to bless you and will not hesitate for a moment to save you if you trust Him as your personal Saviour: He cannot save you unless and until you trust Him. It will only take a moment, but it will determine your eternal destiny. Will you continue to hesitate as if this was just a paltry issue? Will you ‘kick the can down the road’ yet again, or will you wisely, right now, trust Christ alone to be saved eternally?

What do you hope, dear sinner,

To gain by a further delay?

There’s no one to save you but Jesus,

There’s no other way but His way.

Why not? Why not?

Why not come to Him now?

Used by kind permission of Assembly Testimony