This holiday season Kensi and I did exactly what we said we were NOT going to do: PROCRASTINATE! As we found ourselves allowing time to slip ever-so quickly by us, we found ourselves on the Saturday before Christmas Eve running around with the others who procrastinated. I saw aisles full of people looking for the same thing I was and yet due to procrastination, that which we were looking for was gone. We say we will do better next year… but that’s the same thing we said the year before. 😉
My mind is always searching for the spiritual applications from yet another chapter from “The Dickerson Chronicles”. And so with this particular one, I couldn’t help but think about the many who procrastinated in the Bible. One that has always been striking to me is that of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. During the time that Pharaoh held captive the children of Israel, Moses told the word of the Lord to Pharaoh and the Lord’s instruction to let the people go, however Pharaoh refused. Due to Pharaoh’s refusal to submit, there were 10 plagues brought upon the land of Egypt. In the second plague, the land was overrun with frogs which the Lord said would happen if Pharaoh refused to let the people go. Pharaoh is found in Exodus 8:8 calling for Moses and Aaron desiring them to, “entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord”. Moses responds to Pharaoh giving Pharaoh the opportunity to say when Moses should intercede for Pharaoh, his servants, and his people so the frogs would be destroyed from him and the houses. Pharaoh’s answer is intriguing in verse 10, as Pharaoh tells Moses “tomorrow”. So Pharaoh got one more night with the frogs!
We stop and wonder, “why would Pharaoh want one more night with the frogs?” There have been given various reasons as to why Pharaoh would tell Moses “tomorrow”. Pharaoh possibly believed this would be remedied by the passing of another day and could be explained away as a natural phenomenon. Or it could be that Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened that he just refused to believe that the Lord had smitten the land with an overabundance of frogs. Whatever the case, Pharaoh would not relent about letting the people go and would just spend another night with the frogs.
We can sit back and laugh at Pharaoh for wanting to spend another night with the frogs and say we would NEVER be found doing that. However, how many times have we looked into the word of the Lord and found commands that tell us to “let go” of some sin that is in our lives and we decide to hold on to it. We are just like Pharaoh who desired to spend another night with the frogs. Are there times that we know God wants us doing something and rather than submitting to what the Lord desires we make excuse after excuse to pursue what we desire, saying “I’ll hold out just a little while longer”?
Is that which we are holding on to really worth another night with “the frogs”? If you are holding out on God, whether it be for selfish ambitions, refusing to forgive, indulging in the sinfulness of this world, failing to learn (Eph. 5:17), grow (2 Peter 3:18), be edified (2 Tim. 3:16,17) and edify/encourage others (1 Thess. 5:11), then you are saying “just one more night with the frogs”.
The ill-effects of Pharaoh’s decision to procrastinate was not just something he experienced with the plague of frogs (Exodus 8:3,4), but the people suffered as well. His decision would affect others. As Pharaoh continued to rebel, he would find out soon enough that the cost of such rebellion was more than he could bear. (Exodus 9-12) The things we do, the things we say, they affect others, for better and yea even for worse. (1 Kings 22:52; 2 Cor. 3:2,3)
We all have our problems with things that we tend to procrastinate on and simply say “tomorrow”. When I saw the aisle “empty” of the item(s) that I was in need of, I regretted that I had waited and to leave empty-handed. This instance of me leaving empty-handed due to my procrastination is of no comparison if we delay submitting our lives to God and in the end, we are left empty-handed.
Will you accept the deliverance that only God can give you from the sin that plagues your life today or will you spend one more night with the frogs? Don’t delay and put off your salvation, some sin, or your service to the Lord who redeemed you so. (2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:12-15)
Consider the words of the hymn “Must I go, and Empty-handed” written by Charles Carroll Luther: “Must I go, and empty-handed,” thus my dear Redeemer meet? Not one day of service give Him, lay no trophy at His feet? “Must I go, and empty-handed?” Must I meet my Savior so? Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty-handed go? Not at death I shrink nor falter, for my Savior saves me now; But to meet Him empty-handed, thought of that now clouds my brow. O the years in sinning wasted; Could I but recall them now, I would give them to my Savior, to His will I’d gladly bow. O ye saints, arouse, be earnest, up and work while yet ’tis day; Ere the night of death o’ertake thee, strive for souls while still you may.”
Something to think about. Have a great week! – DJ 😊
