22 February 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition YOU ASK WHY Our Fascination with Procrastination There are countless ways we can waste the little and precious time our Lord has given to us. But there is one way that trumps them all – PROCRASTINATION – putting off until tomorrow what we should and must do today. And if the truth be known, one day soon, tomorrow will not come. “As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you’” (Acts 24:25). The apostle Paul is speaking before Governor Felix at Caesarea about the truth claims of the gospel. Startled and afraid of what Paul was saying, Felix invokes the #1-time waster in the world . . . PROCRASTINATION! And procrastinating in this one area can mean the difference between eternal life and eternal death. Procrastinate about mowing the lawn or doing your laundry and your life will not be altered too greatly. But procrastinate in responding to the Good News of the Gospel, and your life here and on the other side of the grave will be greatly altered. What procrastination really means The word procrastinate comes from two Latin words that, when combined, mean “toward tomorrow.” Procrastination is simply putting off “toward tomorrow” what should be done today. The primary problem with putting off till tomorrow what we should be doing today is our presumption. We presume tomorrow will come. Well, it will come. But it may not come for you or for me. Only God knows how much time we have on this earth, and we should be focused on doing the things God has called us to do in a timely manner. It was Mark Twain who once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” Breaking free from procrastination So, how are you doing in the area of procrastination? Are you doing ok in some areas, but less than ok in others? That is generally the case for all of us. We have a tendency to do what we want to do or feel most comfortable doing and put off things that are uncomfortable. Perhaps you are facing a major project in your life right now and you have not been able to overcome inertia and get going. One of the first steps to take is to break it down into smaller more manageable portions of work. Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!” Prayerfully consider in which areas of your life right now where procrastination has a strangle hold on you. Take it in prayer to the throne of grace. Share it with someone close to you who can encourage you and help hold you accountable. Satan’s strategy: no hurry In The Screwtape Letters, the apologetic novel by C. S. Lewis, addressing issues of temptation and resistance to it, the senior demon Screwtape is mentoring his nephew Wormwood. In the story we read about three apprentice demons who are getting ready for their first assignment to mess with God’s people. When they meet with Satan, they are asked what strategy they planned to follow: The first demon apprentice said, “I will tell the people that there is no God.” Satan said, “That will not work, because in their heart of hearts they know there is a God.” The second demon apprentice said, “I will tell people there is no hell.” Satan said, “That will not work because there is so much evil in the world, they know there must be a hell.” The third demon apprentice said, “I will tell people there is no hurry.” “GO,” Satan said, “tell them that and you will ruin them by the millions!” By saying there is “no hurry” the goal is to lull the human race into a false sense of security, making them less to look to Jesus and actively resist temptation. I believe procrastination is one of Satan’s sharpest darts. He whispers, “Do it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.” Eventually, tomorrow will not come for all of us. May we be found doing today, the work God has set before us for one reason only – the glory of Almighty God. And the first and most important work is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! Dr. Tommy Boland is senior pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach (www.thecrosscc.org). He blogs regularly at tommyboland.com. - Dr. Tommy Boland - Pastor, Cross Community Church
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