Procrastination

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:3-11 NIV)

It is a common practice among students.  Procrastination.  Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow or next week?  I was a big-time procrastinator when I was a student.  I convinced myself that I really worked better under pressure and continually justified my procrastination.  The reality was, however, that I was lazy and didn’t want to do the work until I absolutely had to.  The fact that I was able to do it, and fairly well at that, wasn’t proof that I worked well under pressure.  It was, instead, proof of how much ability I had if I just chose to use it.  

As followers of Jesus, we have been given everything we need to live godly lives.  Why then are so few of us living in such a way that distinguishes us from the rest of the unbelieving world?  Procrastination perhaps?  Do we think we will get around to it later in life when we are not so busy with other things?  Do we just put it off because we are enjoying the life immediately in front of us?  

Everyday life has a way of distracting us and consuming us.  It is so easy to get caught up in what’s happening right in front of us, that we forget the big picture—why we are really here.  Like students who get so focused on their social lives that they forget they are students, it is easy for us to get so distracted by life that we forget who we are supposed to be living it for.  

Following in the footsteps of Jesus just doesn’t happen because one day you decide to do it.  That’s a start, but it requires daily discipline. Jesus said that to follow Him means taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).  Like staying ahead on homework and projects, this requires intentionality.  It won’t just happen; you must decide to do it.  

Today, know you have been given everything you need to follow Jesus successfully.  There’s no need to procrastinate any longer.  Now is the time to become the person the Lord created you to be.

© Jim Musser 2015