It Shall be no More Prolonged...the Wayfarer

It Shall be no More Prolonged
10/3/17

“For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.”

(Ezekiel 12:25)

Many who profess belief, hold the belief that both judgment and justice are distant things, finding no reason to make any change whatever in either thought process, or action taken, living continually in the here and now, still content to see only the immediate gratification of the moment, the immediate “wants” of the body, the immediate pains and disappointments of the day faced as they wake, never remembering that that time in which they exist, both in body and mind extends beyond the moment, beyond the plane that is immediately seen.

Procrastination of unpleasant tasks is commonplace, avoiding decisions and actions to be taken until such time they can no longer be put off until “tomorrow”.

This old Preacher is guilty of procrastination of many of the known tasks that eventually must be done around the home, around the yard, in a garden that requires attention to garner any of its produce, and even in minor daily tasks such as the preparation of an evening meal, until the procrastination no longer is possible, and the task must be done.

Procrastination does not eliminate the fact that those tasks must be accomplished, but, in fact, more often than not, makes those tasks more difficult to accomplish, take longer to accomplish, (eating up time that could have been spent in other, more pleasant pursuits), nor do any of those tasks disappear by that procrastination.

Yards still need mowed, growing taller, taking more time to groom, minor repairs not made turn into more expensive and labor intensive repairs. Simple maintenance not done on a vehicle becomes a major mechanical failure that could have been avoided, again becoming more expensive and painful to accomplish.

Failure to see the NEED of the here and now because of the WANT of the here and now always results in those needs becoming far greater, and even at times not being met because of having first filled the wants.

Ezekiel had a bit of warning and advice concerning procrastination, inherent not only in individuals, but in nations as well, given him by God for a people procrastinating the required task of returning to His commandments, His covenant, in return for His blessing, procrastinating the comprehension of the time they had been given to avoid an assured wrath instead of that blessing, should that procrastination continue.

“Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

For there shall be no more any vain vision, nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of times that are far off.

Therefore, say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; there shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.”

(Ezekiel 12:22-28)

“Aw, preacher, that prophecy is long ago, far away and for a different people and time, why bring it up again?”

Paul also had a bit to say about procrastination:

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the day of salvation.)
(2Corinthians 6:1 &2)


Solomon reminded us of the continuity of both the promise and the warning:

“I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.

I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:10-15)

The old prophets, and their prophecies have bearing on all ages, and particularly the “here and now”.

The “here and now” is once more in dire need of the remembrance of that prophecy, what it meant both to Israel and the world, both then and now!

It would most behoove this, and all nations to remember, not only these prophecies, but even more so those of the greatest prophet of all, none less than the Son of God himself, Christ Jesus.

It is He who reminded us of the importance of the old prophecies as well as those that He gave as well. It is He to whom we must turn in a time when procrastination can no longer be tolerated either by God or by man.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”

(Matthew 5:17)

Even so, Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer