Matthew 26:45
Finally, Jesus returned to his
disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has
come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy
has this book we read at bedtime about a farmer whose entire menagerie –
and even his family – arose before he did. Every time he heard the
rooster crow, he would say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “Not yet”…or
“Just one more second” so that he could continue sleeping. He would
burrow further under the covers as the cow mooed and the cat and dog
came to sit on top of him. And then, his wife yelled “ALBERTTTTTTTT!”
He continued to try to sleep until the second time his wife yelled
“ALBERTTTTTTTTT!!!” Then he said, “Oh, alright!” He got up, dressed,
did his chores, and sat down to a hearty breakfast.
Timothy loves
this story. So when he awoke at 6:15 a.m., and I wanted to continue
sleeping, I reminded him that I was like the farmer in his story…”just a
few more minutes, please!” “But it’s a beautiful day!” Timothy told
me. And as much as I wanted to sleep and rest a little while longer, I
knew that it was time to get up and start enjoying this “beautiful day”
with my nephew. Soon enough, he will be too old for his Aunt Debbie. I
will be the one saying, “Get up! It’s a beautiful day,” and he will be
grumbling and groaning as many teenagers do…and saying, “Just a few
more minutes!”
Soon enough, this little boy who thinks we are
“perfect” (his word, not mine!) will not want to be seen with two old
fogeys like us! Soon enough, he will be grown, move out of the house,
and maybe have a family with little boys and girls of his own. The time
to “get up and enjoy a beautiful day” with him is NOW! And this is the
point of today’s scripture passage…the time to get up and share the
GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ is here!
Jesus didn’t tarry…He didn’t
say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “God, can’t this wait until another
day?”…He didn’t make excuses and shirk His responsibilities. Surely we
can get up and get going on behalf of the One who did so much for each
one of us! Soon enough, our earthly lives will be over, and all of the
opportunities we had to serve Jesus and share His message of love,
grace, mercy, forgiveness – and a new life in Him – will have passed.
Where will you be on that day? Will you have spent your time wisely and
obediently? Or will you have been like the farmer who pulled the quilt
up over his head and pled, “Just a little while longer!” as his wife
and animals called to him.
“The time has come.” These are Jesus’ words…will you answer His call… or are you still sleeping?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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