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Do It Now!

2 Timothy 4:6-9, 11, 13, 21a
August 16, 2009

A doctor who was a recovering alcoholic told a friend how much he owed a former pastor for helping him. He said, “I owe that man my life! I’ve wanted to thank him for many years. Today, I’m going to call him.”

“Oh, doctor,” his friend answered, “haven’t you heard, that preacher had a heart attack last week and died.”

How sad! That doctor had waited too long. In fact, we all know the feeling of putting off—of procrastinating, of waiting too long. How many letters have never been written? How many phone calls have never been made? How many compliments have never been given? How many “I’m sorry’s” have never been spoken? How many “Thank you’s” have never been uttered? How many “I love you’s” are still unexpressed? How many commitments are still not made because we waited too long?

There’s a Scripture that reminds us of this. It’s in a letter that Paul wrote to Timothy. The apostle Paul had known Timothy’s grandmother and mother. He had been influential in Timothy’s conversion, had trained him in the faith, and had taken him on missionary journeys. But, this letter was written while Paul was in prison awaiting execution by the Romans. He knew when he wrote these words that his days on earth were numbered. This letter contains one of the most personal messages in the entire Bible. He said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Then he adds a comment and a request, “Do your best to come to me as soon as you can. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. The coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 4:6-7,9-11,13).

Here, Paul asked Timothy to come see him as soon as he could, and to bring his cloak (to warm his body). His books (to occupy his mind), and his parchments (the Scriptures, to comfort his soul). And then Paul makes this plea, “Do your best to come before winter” (4:21a).

What about you? Would you have gone right then? Or would you have procrastinated?

This phrase, “Come before winter,” became the title of one of the most famous sermons ever preached. Clarence McCartney, one of the great ministers of the twentieth century, preached it in Pittsburgh. After he preached it the first time, the church members were so moved that they called a special meeting and mandated that every year, Clarence McCartney would preach that sermon again. So, every year for thirty-seven years, Clarence preached that sermon.

In it he raised this question, “What if Timothy had delayed? What if he had said, “Of course I’ll go, but I’ve got a lot of stuff going on right now. I’ll do it later.” Then, what if when he did get down to the dock, he was told, “Sorry! It’s too late. The sea is too rough. Wait ’til spring. Then, what if Timothy took a ship to Rome that next spring and finally arrived wondering, “Am I in time?”

What if Timothy goes to the prison and says to the jailer, “I’m here to see the apostle Paul.” And the jailer says, “You must be Timothy. Haven’t you heard? Paul was executed last winter.” And then the jailer says, “Timothy, he was looking for you. Every day, every time when I would go to his cell to take him his meal, he would always say, ‘Timothy, is that you?’ And when Paul died, the last words he said were, “Tell Timothy, my beloved son in the faith, that I love him.”

Now, how would you feel if you were Timothy, and you hadn’t made it in time? We can all relate to that. We all know the feeling of putting off, and putting off, until it’s too late.

We all procrastinate. Let’s consider three situations:

I. FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU NEED TO SAY, “I’M SORRY” TO SOMEONE, DO IT NOW!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “When you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23-24).

He was talking about our relationships with others. For instance, you see someone coming and your first inclination is to look the other way or cross the street. Perhaps conditions in your neighborhood, or in your workplace, have grown distant or hostile. You live on the same street, work in the same office, but the atmosphere is chilly, tense and strained.

What are you waiting for? You may say, “It’s not my fault.” Maybe not, but as a Christian, it’s your responsibility. Jesus was adamant on this point. He said, “even if you are giving an offering in a worship service and remember that someone is mad at you, don’t wait. Leave that gift and go apologize and make things right.” (See Matt. 5:23-24).

It’s amazing that Jesus said reconciliation is more important than worship. Listen! Broken relationships are just too painful and too destructive. They bring ulcers and headaches and bitterness. It’s no way to live!

So, if you are at odds with any other person right now, don’t let it poison your spirit or paralyze your soul. For their sake, for your sake, for God’s sake, go and make peace.

Holding grudges and bitterness is wrong. One woman described it this way. She said, “I’m reminded of the time I moved a few years ago. My company provided a professional mover, and when he asked what I wanted him to pack, I just waved my arm and said, ‘Everything!’

When I got to my new place, I saw that he had taken me literally. Along with my furniture, he had packed up all of my trash bins as well. And there I was in my beautiful new house with all my old garbage, including last month’s news papers, empty ketchup bottles and grapefruit peels!”

That’s what we do when we hold on to anger and resentment. This emotional garbage will destroy us. If you need to say, “I’m sorry” to someone do it now!

The Apostle Paul said, "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18, niv).

II. SECOND, IF YOU NEED TO SAY, “I LOVE YOU” TO SOMEONE, DO IT NOW!

Have you heard about the man whose wife suddenly died? They had been married for over forty years. After her funeral, he stood at her graveside, blinking back the tears and said, “She was the light of my life. She brought such joy to our home. She did everything for me. She was the perfect wife and companion. I loved her so much! But, I never told her!”

Isn’t that sad? Isn’t that pitiful? ---“I never told her.”

One of the most tragic things in the world is to go through life not feeling loved and respected. But it’s another tragedy, to go though life loving someone, and yet never getting around to telling them. Jesus expressed his love often. Over and over he said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me” (John 15:9, nlb).

The point is: some things are so vital, so crucial; and life is so fragile, that we must not put them off.

Mary Connell wrote a poem called “Final Sightings” in which she offered the moving observation that everything will finally happen for the last time. Her poem forces us to acknowledge that there will be a last time when your child will climb into your lap. There will be a last time when you will carry your son up the stairs or say prayers by your daughter’s bed. There will be a last time when the whole family will be together at Thanksgiving. There will be a last time when you will go to church.

She wrote,

And so it is with every sweet occurrence

That lends a sense of comfort to our lives

The precious final gaze and then the final phrase

Are often pretty hard to recognize.

But still when something happens for the last time

It’s likely that no one will really know

What happens then will surely just stop happening

So leave with love and peace each time you go

—adapted by Maralene Wesner

There will be a last time to say and do those things you’ve left unsaid and undone. So, if you need to say, “I love you” to someone, do it now!

III. THIRD, IF YOU NEED TO SAY, “YES!” TO GOD, DO IT NOW!

You won’t have Spiritual opportunities forever. Today is the only time mentioned in the Bible. The Scripture says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . .” (Heb. 3:7-8, niv).

When Jesus met Zacchaeus, he said, “Today salvation has come to this house . . .” (Luke 19:9, niv).

Paul said, “God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2, nlb).

None of these Scriptures promise us tomorrow. In fact, Solomon warns about delay. He said, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1, nas)

Once a preacher, who had trouble making decisions, told of his call to a certain church. He said, An old friend spoke to me the night before my interview. He said, “Jim, it’s not my style to give advice, but I’ve called tonight to give you some. Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

“Okay,” he said. Here it is: If they offer you that place of service, don’t ask to see the parsonage. Don’t ask about the salary. Don’t ask anything. Just say, ‘Yes!’ Do you hear me, young man?”

The preacher concluded, “That’s what I did, and it was the best decision of my life.”

All of us can recall sad stories of lost opportunities. Don’t let it happen to you. If you feel God offering you His love and His salvation, don’t make excuses. Just say, “Yes!” If God is calling you to do something—follow the Lord in Baptism, Join His church, teach Sunday School class, sing in the choir, work with children or commit your life to Christ, don’t wait. Just say “Yes!” Come to God “before winter!” Do it now! Otherwise it may be too late.

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(WC1790)

Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.

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