“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
- John 9:4 ESV
I may just be an old dog, but there are some things I don’t understand about humans.
For example, when I hear the treat jar rattle, I don’t sit around and think about it for three days.
I don’t make a committee.
I don’t schedule a meeting for next Tuesday.
I move with urgency!
The same thing happens when my human grabs a leash.
I’m already at the door before he’s finished standing up.
If there’s a squirrel in the yard, I’m fully committed before anyone has time to discuss the matter.
Dogs seem to understand something people sometimes forget:
When something matters, you move.
The other day I was stretched out on the porch listening to my human talk about Jesus with a friend.
Later he sat quietly with his Bible open and said, “Lord, help me make the most of every opportunity.”
That got my attention.
You see, I’ve noticed people have urgency for a lot of things.
They hurry to meetings.
They rush to ballgames.
They stand in line for coffee and race through traffic.
They seem to have plenty of urgency for things that won’t matter much next week.
But when it comes to talking about Jesus, they often slow to a crawl.
“I’ll tell them another day.”
“I don’t want to make it awkward.”
“I’m sure someone else will.”
From where I lay on the porch, that doesn’t make much sense.
My human tells me Jesus is the greatest news the world has ever heard.
He says Heaven is real, eternity is forever, and Jesus is still saving people every single day.
If that’s true—and I know it is—then why would anyone keep that Good News to themselves?
But when it comes to eternal things, many folks seem to think there’s always tomorrow.
Tomorrow to pray.
Tomorrow to serve.
Tomorrow to forgive.
Tomorrow to share Jesus with a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend.
The problem is, tomorrow isn’t promised.
Jesus lived with urgency.
Not panic.
Not anxiety.
But purpose.
Every day He walked toward the mission His Father had given Him.
He knew the time to work was now.
My human often reminds me that every tail wag, every sunrise, every conversation, and every opportunity is a gift from God.
Once today is gone, we can’t fetch it back.
That’s why the Gospel is too important to keep on the porch.
Someone you know is hurting.
Someone is searching.
Someone needs hope.
Someone needs Jesus.
And while we may assume another opportunity will come along, none of us knows how many sunrises remain.
An old dog like me has learned that when my human calls, I shouldn’t wait around sniffing every distraction in the yard. I need to come.
Maybe that’s a lesson for all of us.
The world doesn’t need more procrastination.
It needs believers who understand the urgency of the Gospel and the value of every moment God gives us.
The leash is in His hand.
The door is open.
The time is now.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
