A Dose of Reality

Reality is not a concept on a TV show. Reality is meeting life head-on, good or bad. Reality is: * Going to work and earning a paycheck; * Dealing with people – those who like you and those that don’t; * Paying bills for everyday normal things like utilities and insurance; * Seeing things that need repair (car, house, etc.) and taking action to repair them; * Meeting deadlines for work or school; * Knowing that life is made up of successes and failures; * Wanting something and knowing that you can’t afford it; * Looking into the mirror and knowing that you are aging and that it will continue, no matter how hard you try to slow it down or cover it up; * Seeing your parents and children grow old before your eyes; * Knowing that people are depending on you – some for direction, some for support, some for encouragement; * Going to a doctor and hearing that your blood pressure or blood sugar levels are abnormal and making decisions as to what to do about it; * Walking into a hospital and seeing that accidents and disease come into the lives of all kinds of people - young and old , rich and poor; * Walking away from a hospital moments after a loved one has died. Reality can throw a lot of things at us.

John Haywood (1497-1580) observed, “Haste maketh waste.” Even back then that advice had been around for a while. Chaucer (1343-1400) had much earlier, in his “Canterbury Tales,” phrased the thought this way: “in wicked haste is no profit.” Although it is often very true that “fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” nevertheless there is something to be said for haste, given the right circumstances. Notice a few Biblical examples: * “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him” (Mark 5:6). Here was a man possessed of demons who recognized in the Son of God the source of his deliverance. Thus, he “made haste” to the One able to save him from his affliction. * “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17). Some things are too important to delay. With regard to salvation, we should “make haste” to come to the Savior. * When Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus “...ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him...” (Luke 19:4). We can’t afford to miss Jesus. * When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found it empty, she ran to tell Peter and John. ”Both were running,” but John “outran Peter and reached the tomb first” John 20:2, 4). Some good news just can’t wait; it has to be told, and told at once. Those who hear such marvelous good news should “make haste” to determine its validity. Philip, being directed by the Holy Spirit, “...ran up to the chariot...” of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:31). Again, good news can’t wait – and neither can the lost. They are in need of the Word of God, NOW! “ ‘...In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Reality is: * Knowing that (unless Jesus comes in your lifetime) you will die someday, in some manner. * Knowing that some day you will stand before God in the Judgment and give an account of how you conducted your life. * Knowing that God loves you so much that he gave His Son so that you could be saved from your sins (John 3:16). “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). God has totally, plainly, made himself understood  “...so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).