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Patience: Respect for the last second (3)

“…The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all” (KJV) Ecclesiastes 9:11

Have you ever done something hurriedly before its scheduled time? Can you recall times when you impatiently performed the task you assigned to someone but realized it would have been better if you had waited? What about situations where you did not get the expected results because you thought you may succeed by using a different approach to the laid down plan.

It was 8:07 AM on a fine morning; I hurried to the bus terminal to pick a bus scheduled for 8:20 AM. I came in earlier because I did not want to miss the bus. It was 8:20 AM and there was no sign of the bus. I impatiently gave myself up to 8:30 AM to keep waiting for the bus after which “I am going to lodge a complaint”, I soliloquized. It was exactly 8:28 AM and I started to call. In the process of being transferred to the appropriate office, I saw the bus approaching; I quickly stopped the call and hurried to join the bus. En route, I ask the driver why he was late. After listening to the driver’s story, I realized that to have complained would have probably been the biggest mistake I might have made at the end of the year.

It is disappointing when we take ample time to plan for something but fail to live within our plans. We fail to keep to our decisions, principles, time, vows, schedules, etc. The reasons we give for such change of minds are usually based on our own desires. However, if we stick to our plans which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), and we think about such things we will reach our goals. Most at times, we impatiently cancel our plans and lose our blessings. For instance, a man happily weds a woman vowing to be with her “till death keep us part” but turn out to be “till fight, quarrel, barrenness, or families put us asunder”. How sad it is. Also, a young adult will decide to remain chase for her/his future partner but gets destroyed by ungodly relationship. We often pray to God but hurriedly choose the short cut and meet our untimely demise. Women enter into any marriage because they embrace the world idea of “your time will pass” and live a life of unending pain and agony. A young man decides to choose a particular profession but because of the influence of friends changes his decision without any godly counsel. Sadly to say, it is almost the middle the year but many have already started their next year’s resolution because of the bad decisions they have already made this year.

It is challenging to live up to one's decisions because of the kind of world we find ourselves in. But as Christians should anything separate us from the love of Christ? Is it trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword (Roman 8:35-39); is it home or family or business (Mark 10:28-31); is it friends, relationships, education, or self-interest? Absolutely nothing, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Roman 8:37-39).

Have you made a decision to do something you can be proud of at the end of this year? The tortoise has said it will never compete with the horse in a race but with patience and discipline, it will get to its destination safely without missing any benefits along the way. Remember to be patient in all things, and with prayer and trust in God, your name shall be victory. Discipline yourself for in discipline, we become faithful disciples! May the Lord be with you!

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