I’m going to confess something to you that I don’t like about myself. I have a tendency to put things off. I’m not sure if it’s a power struggle or a laziness issue but if someone asks or tells me that they need something I almost always say, “O.k. I can get that to you tomorrow.” I say that, even if I’m not currently doing anything, like there should be a 24 – hour time tax levied on all requests. Do you remember being young and told to do a chore or to finish your homework right in the middle of the best part of the A-team? There was no pause button so the plan was going to come together just as you left the door and walked out into the night with trash bag in hand while listening for the heavy breathing of Jason Vorhees. I hear you. That’s enough eighties references. Maybe I just need time to think or maybe I just can’t let go of the 12 year old inside of me that screams out, “You may be able to tell me what I’m going to do but I have power over when it gets done.” Maybe I’m not alone.

Our lives are full of, “not nows” aren’t they? I should get to know my neighbors and share my faith. I should really get back to, serving others, worshipping with other believers, getting serious about my prayer life, spending time with my son.

Stephen Covey, in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, took a principle illustrated by Dwight D. Eisenhower and created what is known as Covey’s Time Management Matrix. The matrix simply illustrates how easily we can find ourselves trapped in a cycle of frantic benign busyness. Almost everything in our life is time sensitive. “Call in the next fifteen minutes.” “Order now and you’ll receive…” “Don’t miss the next episode.” “Best if used by…” If we’re not careful we can become so wrapped up in reading and posting on someone else’s wall that we wind up missing out on our own life. To break the cycle we must ask ourselves what really matters and then force ourselves to pursue it.

Matthew 16:26 narrows the list “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” or consider this from Luke 10:41-42 “…Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Here’s the, “Not now” that really scares me. It’s the not now that comes to us after our time has come and gone. It’s the one that screams out, “I could have then, but not now.” It comes crawling to us and digs its claws deep into our hearts after we graduate, our children leave the house, after our neighbors move, or after our apology becomes meaningless. There may be some painful not nows in your life but there is one that, if you’re reading this, you can still avoid. It’s this. “I could’ve given my life to Christ, but not now.”

“he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – II Peter 3:9 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:6

God took care of the urgent because, to him, we are important. Now it’s up to you to do the important before it becomes urgent. Decide to put Christ first.

“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 13:11-13

“for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” – Galatians 3:27