It's Only A Minute

 

“Last call for Henderson and Hernandez.” It was eleven minutes until the plane was scheduled to depart. At ten minutes till departure, the airline released the seats for this party of two and allowed two passengers who had been victims of an oversell to board in their place. At nine minutes before departure, Henderson and Hernandez arrived at the gate. They were business colleagues and had been swallowed up by the long security lines at the terminal entrance that everyone has to navigate before entering the passenger area. They were livid. They were in disbelief. They threatened - using foul language. They pleaded. They were reminded of the airline policy, to which they responded, “But we were only one minute late!” How much damage, how much loss, how many tragic things have happened at the excuse, “Just a Minute?” Oh, I know that we all procrastinate. And most often the effect or impact on our life or the lives of others is minimal. But in some cases that one minute can mean the difference between life or death, Heaven or Hell. Had they been here sooner, had he done that quicker, had they simply looked in the right direction; these are statements that most of us have made at some time or another. And if life came with a guarantee of tomorrow then it really would be of little concern for one minute would simply follow another. But we all know better.

What delayed Henderson and Hernandez causing them to miss their flight? Did wake-up call fail? An auto accident? Did they get lost? That could explain things. Or, they could have waited too long to leave the hotel or failed to leave themselves the time needed to encounter the TSA terror. But one thing is certain, their tardiness kept them from boarding their flight. What keeps us from success? What will keep us from Heaven? They were going to do what they should, but they didn’t get around to it in time! That has pertinence in our daily schedules and our overall success. It has relevance to whether or not we go to Heaven. Do not decide to live for Jesus even one minute too late!

[Philippians 2:9-11] One of the most sobering songs sung in worship is “Almost Persuaded” by P.P. Bliss. The wording is drawn from the apostle Paul’s conversation with King Agrippa in Acts 26, with the idea that many will come remarkably close to becoming a Christian but will tragically decide that Jesus is Lord too late. Have you ever wondered who will be the last person deliberating the decision to become a Christian (a follower of Christ) when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise? Why do we delay? And at what cost do we procrastinate?

(James 2:13-14) “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James teaches that we do not know what tomorrow will bring much less the next minute. That one minute you had to do that good deed for another could be the only door that will open for that good thing you intended to do. That one minute you had to obey the gospel may be the last opportunity you have. I am persuaded that one of the devil’s greatest tools for our eternal destruction is when he gets us to “JUST WAIT A MINUTE.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3) “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall have no escape.” The Christian actually looks forward to the Lord’s return – not as a thief but as a Savior to rescue us from this sinful world. (Revelation 22:12-15) Lord come.