Spiritual Procrastination
I’m sure we have all had an instance in life in which we learned you should not procrastinate, right? Maybe you waited until the last minute and the result was absolutely disastrous. Or maybe it wasn’t a disaster, but it was clear you hadn’t put as much effort and thought into the final result. Saints, our salvation is the same way, in the sense we shouldn’t procrastinate - because what you put in is exactly what you’ll get out of it.
Proverbs 13:4 AMP says The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition],But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.
In other words, Proverbs tells us that lazy people want a result they don’t put in effort towards, but those who put in the effort are rewarded. Sounds a lot like our salvation. Your salvation is not something you can put off, and it certainly isn’t an automatic “escape Hell” card. You must live uprightly and righteously before the Lord, and part of that is the effort you put into your relationship with Christ:
Phillippians 2:12-13 AMP
12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 10:26-31 AMP
26 For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], 27 but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries[those who put themselves in opposition to God].28 Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine[retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 AMP
26 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. 27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].
2 Peter 2:20-21 AMP
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have [personally] known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to have turned back from the holy commandment [verbally] handed on to them.
In all of the above scriptures, we see a distinct difference between those who maintain their salvation and put in effort versus those who don’t and eventually fall away back into sin. I like how the author of Corinthians likens living righteously and intentionally to boxing with precision instead of procrastinating which is like basically flailing your arms and hoping for the best.
Ask yourself, in your own walk with Christ, are you just hoping for the best and procrastinating or are you working out your own salvation? If you’re not sure, assume that you are just doing the bare minimum or barely meeting the mark and strive to do more.
The reality of our salvation is we don’t get to take for granted the blessing of salvation and then expect the promise of Heaven. That’s like putting in zero effort into your homework and expecting to get an A. What steps did you take to get an A? You didn’t, so why are you expecting an outcome that is beyond the effort given?
Saints, choose today to truly walk out your salvation. Don’t be a lazy or entitled Christian, but genuinely get to know your Heavenly Father and live a life pleasing to Him. DO NOT PUT OFF FOR TOMORROW SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TODAY.
Proverbs 27:1 AMP Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring.
Go in peace, Beloved.