A Round Tuit

Generally speaking, people do what they want to do, although wanting to do something and actually doing it is not necessarily mutually inclusive. There are some things we feel we should do, or perhaps would like to do, but for whatever reason we haven’t done it yet; in other words, we’re waiting to get “around to it” aka “a round tuit” as the saying has been coined. 

While we all have a tendency to procrastinate in doing things like cleaning out the garage, balancing the checkbook, or painting the shed, etc., it becomes a much more serious matter when it comes to important issues in life. I believe this applies to both believers and non-believers. 

In my case, I have a few ministry related ideas and projects that have been weighing on my mind that I’d like to put into action but I haven’t quite gotten “around to it.” I well know at 70 years of age that my time on earth is closer to the finish line than the start, but I have been praying about these ideas and projects. Sometimes I feel that maybe the delay is because of me, because of fear of failure, which I readily admit, but also I haven’t gotten a sense of clear direction from God yet. So, I’m trusting in Him and in His perfect timing for the answers. 

In the case of a non-believer, the most important issue they have, whether they realize it or not, is what they’re going to do about Jesus. The problem is, our natural desires are not towards God and we don’t seek to have a relationship with Jesus on our own. Non-believers are in grave danger and most don’t even know it. 

Because, 

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:5

And, “There is no one who seeks God.” Romans 3:11b

So, while non-believers go about living their life in the here and now, they generally don’t really care or even think much about the hereafter. They typically choose to delay considering Christ, and instead put their trust in the world and all it has to offer. They purposely ignore or avoid anyone or anything that points them to Christ. Life without Christ can be fun (for a season) and it seems right (so to speak) but actually it’s the way of death. 

Matthew 16:26 explains, 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” 

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “People display great ingenuity in making excuses for rejecting the message of God’s love; they display marvelous skill not in seeking salvation but in fashioning reasons for refusing it; they are dexterous in avoiding divine grace and in securing their own ruin.”

In the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel was sent by God to awaken the people of Jerusalem to a sense of danger as there were a great number of false prophets in Jerusalem leading people astray during this time and idol worship was rampant. Ezekiel also prophesied about a future generation that will be stiff-necked and who will resist the Holy Spirit just as their fathers did. 

That stiff-necked generation is very present in our world today: people who continually reject Christ, the Holy Spirit, and His word. They reject His message and have made it a habit to continually hold up shields to ward off the gracious arrows of the gospel. If only they would take the time to stop and consider that those arrows are meant to slay the sins that are enslaving their own hearts. Each and every time they hold up a shield against Christ and His word they establish a pattern of delay. They delay considering Christ and prefer to think that the issues we speak of concerning Him aren’t for them, or at very least not of any immediate importance. They delay receiving the message of the cross; they choose to go about their lives as if Jesus’ death on the cross was of no importance, and especially not to them. They refuse to see themselves as a sinner in need of a savior. Their continual delay and continual rejection of Christ, is what, in fact, will send them to hell. No amount of good deeds or good intentions will save the unbeliever. 

Perhaps you’re young or perhaps you’re old like me, but my prayer is this: if you haven’t already done so, turn to Christ in repentance and faith today, before it’s too late. Leave your past life and step into a new life in Christ.

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

2 Corinthians 6:2

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? Hebrews 3:15-17

Don’t procrastinate. Don’t delay. Get “around to it” today.