Perceptions #200404

"TOMORROW IS ALWAYS TOO LATE"

by Elmer F. Little, Jr.

We are a people of the best intentions. We intend to do good. We intend to do better. We will make those needed changes in our habits that will improve the quality of our lives. We will help others, strengthen, serve, reach out.

But always . . . tomorrow! We will diet tomorrow! Spiritually speaking we will do more Bible study, we will pray more fervently, care more deeply, serve more unselfishly . . . we will really get involved tomorrow.

But that's too late! "Now is the accepted time . . . . " (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is always the clarion call of the Holy Scripture (cf. Hebrews 3:5-15). This day, This hour, This moment . . . is all we can we sure off. We cannot change what has been. We cannot be sure of what will be. Today is ours. This moment is ours. Whatever good thing, we have been thinking about . . . let's be at it . . . Now. Tomorrow is always too late.

This was brought home to me, all too graphically, a few years ago when I was conducting a gospel meeting with a church, which I had formerly served. There was in that congregation a fine Christian man whom I had come to love and appreciate deeply. We had not always agreed, but he had a profound influence on my life and my ministry. While I was there I fully intended to get out to his house and tell him how much he had meant to me . . . how much I loved him. It rained Monday and Tuesday (he lived out in the country) . . . there were other pressing things on Wednesday. I intended to go on Thursday but something else interfered. I did go Friday . . . . I was called to the home. My friend had died during the night. I did not get to tell him how much he meant to me. I hope he knew.

Tomorrow was too late! It always is!

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