A Few Thoughts From Sheldon Swartz

"Now is the day of salvation." II Corinthians 6:2b

Sometimes I think there will be a better time than the present to start a good habit or discipline. If I am going to begin a Bible-reading plan, for instance, I think dates like January 1, or Septermber 1, or a Monday are the best times to begin. If I am going to begin to eat healthier, or start an exercise program, I think of a time in the future when it would "make sense" to begin. If I am going to begin a habit of expressing gratefulness to others for what they give or mean to me, I at least think tomorrow would be a good time to begin. After all, I can't get a clean run at it today because part of the day is already gone!

Somewhere I got the idea that there is something magical or helpful about beginning things on particular days or at particular times. It's funny how often those days or times are not today and not right now! Of course I have been through the disappointment of finding out that there is nothing special or different about the obviously best day to begin anything: January 1st! Something begun on April 17th at 2:37 in the afternoon has as much a chance of being successful as something begun on January 1at 6:00 in the morning!

The Apostle Paul said, "Now is the day of salvation." In this passage he was referring to receiving God's grace when it is available and indicating that is is available now!

But could there be meaning beyond this? Hang in here with me a bit. Could it be that beginning or doing good things as soon as we can after they occur to us as something we want to do is the way of salvation? That would be kind of like "walking in the light" now, wouldn't it? If what saves us from evil so that we can walk in the goodness of God is our responsiveness to the Spirit's calling whenever that call comes, isn't that "being saved", today? Sure, in some sense we have been saved, and in another sense we will be saved. But today has a lot to do with our "salvation" also.

How true do these sound?

There is no better time to exercise than now.
There is no better time to eat healthy than now.
There is no better time to write a note to _______ than now.
There is no better time to balance my checkbook than now. There is no better time to enjoy nature than now.
There is no better time to tell my wife I Iove her than now.
There is no better time to pray than now.
There is no better time to be still than now.

Now, of course I'm not talking about compulsively doing everything that comes to mind right away. There is a time for everything, and sometimes it just ain't the time! Sometimes this is true: "There's no better time to refrain from ___________ than now."

I'm trying to expose this belief for the lie that it is: "There is a better time to do something than now, even when it can be done or begun perfectly well in the moment." (I'm writing to myself, but I hope some of you can relate!)

For some reason I am feeling a bit freer. I think it could be because I just sent Velma an email letting her know of my love and I know I am going to go for a brisk walk as soon as I am finished here.

"God, out of your love and compassion you cannot help but be about saving people from their deadening beliefs and giving them Truth, so that they can be raised from the dead. Thanks that you did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. Help me to cooperate with that good work in the world and in myself by choosing to do or begin now to live more consistently with Love and Truth, since there is no better time than Now to do that. I shall be forever grateful. Amen."