A young preacher was nervous because his bishop was visiting in his morning service. After the service he explained to the bishop that he had prepared the first part of the sermon, but had run out of time. He said, “I just trusted the Lord for the latter half of the sermon.” The bishop said, “Then you are to be congratulated, for your part was much better than God’s part.” It is amazing what folks blame on God!
God is not the author of laziness! Work is honorable not a part of the curse of the fall. God put Adam in charge of tending to the Garden of Eden before Adam’s fall into sin. Sin brought the curse and the “thorns and thistles” – the unpleasant part of work.
The apostle Paul said to the young man, Timothy, “Study (be diligent) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) A good preparation is half the battle towards doing anything.
Two men applied for a job with a logging company. The foreman gave each one a dull axe and a tree of equal size and told them the first one to chop down his tree would get the job. One of the men began immediately chopping as fast as he could. The other man sat down, pulled a file out of his pocket, and began to sharpen his axe. When he began chopping great chunks of wood began to fly. His tree fell to the ground while the first man was still flailing away with his dull axe.
Time spent preparing is time well spent.
The ultimate application of this truth is the one the prophet Amos spoke to Israel, “O prepare to meet they God!” This short span of years we have on earth is our preparation time for an eternity in one of two destinations. Can you imagine the wakeup call that a Christian person would have to stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ and be shown how much of his life on earth he had squandered away? What eternal rewards he could have enjoyed?
Some have suggested that is the time God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. It is almost too difficult to think about what a horror it will be for the lost people who have rejected Christ and resisted every opportunity they had to receive Him and live for Him. To lift up one’s eyes in Hell, knowing it is forever, with no exit signs there – prepare now, don’t let it happen to you.
Today is the Day of Salvation! The Judgement Day will be too late to prepare!