Deadline

 

I hearkened back to my CPA days this week. September 15^th is the deadline for filing corporation income tax returns. The weeks leading up to September 15^th always got busier and busier trying to get everything done before time ran out. I never minded the rush because I felt like I worked best when I was under a deadline. It forced me to become more focused and single-minded.

 

Those of us, myself included, who don’t work well without the pressure of a deadline can have difficulty in spiritual matters. We sometimes don’t do the things we should because we don’t feel the pressure to do them now because we feel that we can always do them later.  The truth of the matter is, we face a deadline every day of our life. We are called to live for God today. Whatever plans we may have for the future, whatever we think God may be calling us to do, it all comes down to being the person God calls us to be today and doing the things He wants us to do today. We shouldn’t put off whatever God may ask us to do or say until tomorrow because we may never have that opportunity again. If we can faithfully do this day after day, we know that God will be with us. We don’t have to worry about our future, nor should we.  Jesus tells us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34).

 

In the words of the psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). God gave us life today. He promises to be with us, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. He greatly desires to lead us in the best way if we are open and obedient to Him. The best life we can have is a building of one good day on top of another, forming a useful and holy life.

 

Let’s strive for today to live the life God has called us to.