“How Not To Be An I-do-later”

Not so long ago I was reading a scripture passage that I have read many times before:

REVELATIONS 21:8

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

But this time when I read it one word in the scripture came out differently: “idolaters”. Instead of seeing it as idolaters, in my minds eye the word “idolaters” broke itself up into three pieces as, “i-do-laters”!

This fascinated me. What exactly is an I-do-later? I gave it some thought, and it hit me. An I-do-later is a person who puts his or her desires before God. I-do-laters will do what they want to do first then they will do what God wants them to do later!

Simply put, an I-do-later is an idolater who serves himself first, then he serves God. The things that he put before God are his idols, or his god(s).

EXAMPLES:

1. When you get up in the morning do you pray and read your Bible first or turn on the television, eat, take a bath, brush your teeth, wash your face, etc., or do you say, “I’ll do it later?” (Or words to that affect?)
2. Are you allowing your sins to control you and keep you out of a good relationship with God your Father? Instead of asking Jesus to help you, or using the Word to help you, or at least purposely trying to stay away from the sins that “doth so easily beset you”, or do you say, “I;ll do it later?”
3. Instead of witnessing to that person who you know needs to hear something about Jesus you become fearful and say, “I;ll do it later.”
4. Instead of God taking up most of your time you give it to television, work, school, family, fun in the sun activities, church (yes, church can be an idol too–it’s called being “religious!” It is when you put your religion before God.) or, once again, do you say, “I’ll do it later?”
5. When you need to pray earnestly for someone (and/or fast) do you say, “I’ll do it later”, because you don’t have the time, or you don’t want to miss that meal?
6. God keeps telling you to forgive the individual(s) who hurt you, but you don’t want to now. Instead of asking God to give you the love to forgive them, you say, “I’ll do it later.”
7. Maybe you are a backslider, or a person who intends to come to Jesus, but you’re having too much “fun” now, so you say to Jesus, “I’ll do it later.”

Obvioiusly this list is not complete, but it does give you an idea of what an I-do-later is, and the dangers in becoming one. Whenever you feel the urge to give God a backseat and say, “I’ll do it later.” remember:

The problem with being an “I-do-later” is that your I-do-later can become I-too-late!