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ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS
by Pastor Mark Taylor
EXODUS CHAPTER 8
“And Moses said unto Pharaoh.. When shall I ask God for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses...And he said Tomorrow” (Exodus 8:9-10)
How many people know in their heart what they should do, and have good intentions but they keep putting it off? One of the greatest challenges we face is procrastination. The interesting thing about procrastination is that it is so easy to justify. We may say: One day…
I’ll get serious about my relationship with God.
I’m going to forgive that person who hurt me.
I’m going to get back in shape.
I’m going to get my finances in order.
I’ll find a ministry and start serving God.
What is your…
“One day I’ll __________________”?
“Tomorrow”- Are you serious? When given the opportunity to get rid of millions of nasty, stinky, diseased ridden frogs at any moment, Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow”. He could have gotten rid of them at that very moment. When given the opportunity to rid yourselves of all of the nasty, stinky, diseased things within your life; why do you tell God, “Later”?
Procrastination is dangerous because it robs us of that which can never be regained. An opportunity unused is indeed an opportunity lost. Let us resolve to take advantage of the opportunities presented unto us. “Redeem your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)
Pharaoh’s procrastination not only affected him, but his family, servants, and the whole nation of Egypt with the exception of where God’s people were living. When we delay “getting right with God”, it affects everyone that is in our sphere of influence.
It is a bad decision to put off obeying the gospel and spend one more night with the frogs. It is true that God is very patient. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day could come when God would give up on you. “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man...” (Genesis 6:3).
The people of Noah’s time lived lives in which the thoughts of men were continually evil. God gave them 120 years to turn to Him, and then he sealed the door of the ark and no man could open it. They had spent one night too many with the frogs and lost the opportunity to have a relationship with God.
It is a bad decision to spend one more night with the frogs because the conscience may become hardened. “Today, if you will heart His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15).
God does not easily give up on people. He is a God of mercy and love. But there are times when people choose to give up on God and reject the Holy Spirit speaking to them. When their hearts becomes so depraved by repeated rebellion to God that their conscience is no longer open to the word of God, they are risking the salvation and forgiveness He offers. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not right. Became filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy murder, debate, deceit, malignity (malice, meanness, nastiness, spitefulness), whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable (hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, obstinate), unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32).
It is a bad decision to spend one more night with the frogs because of the uncertainty of death. “You do not know what shall happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even as a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away...Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4: 14, 17). What is is that God is telling you today? God is the Creator of time. God’s great gift to you is #1-Jesus and #2-Time. The Lord has given us time to work, time to play, time to laugh, time to labor, etc... We need to learn to see that every day is a gift from God. Did you know that every morning a gracious God, who loves you, deposits into your bank of time 1,440 minutes?
Identify the priorities of your day. Motivate yourself to do it now. Energize yourself with God’s power, not your own. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12. Wisdom is the art of spending time wisely.
What frogs are you letting stay in your life until later? Will you spend one more day or night with the frogs and risk your heart becoming harden? Recognize that God wants to deliver you today from the sins that are keeping you from another day of peace and happiness that He has to offer you.
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
