Now or Later

I tend to be a procrastinator; you know, "Why do today what I can put off till tomorrow?"  I'm an adult (at least my age says I am), so I don't have someone telling me to do things now.  I can make the choice to wait until a later time if I want to, but I have to remember that my choices have consequences.  I can spend 10 minutes washing the dishes now, or I can wait and spend twice as long later, when the dishes have piled up.

Jesus talks about this concept in Luke chapter 6, verses 24-26.  The heading in my Bible says, "Sorrows Foretold."

What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.

Do I want to focus on my happiness now, for just a short time, or would I rather focus on being happy later, for eternity?  I can spend my days consumed with thoughts of my comfort, wealth and status.  These things may bring me happiness, but it will be short-term.  Or I can choose to live consumed by God and have joy for all eternity.

What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
I can be concerned about me or about Jesus.  If I'm concerned about Jesus now, I will feast for eternity.  If I'm concerned about me now, I will hunger for eternity. 

What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

I can repent (be sorry for) my sins, live for Jesus now, and rejoice for eternity, or I can live as I please now, and spend eternity where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)

What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets. 
I can live seeking man's approval or God's.  Man's approval is fickle and lasts for a moment; God's approval lasts forever.  I want to hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)

What will you choose - now or later?  

Choose TODAY whom you will serve . . . as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15

TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.  Hebrews 3:15

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called TODAY, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.  Hebrews 3:13