‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread’
was coined by Alexander Pope in 1711 in response to literary critics in his own
day. In my own field, I seek to simplify and then popularise the complicated
and the profound. For example, I read dry and dusty theological tomes but teach
the same things contained therein using simple language. By doing so, I thus tempt
the theological know-it-all to rush in to correct my plain language. But I am
on the side of angels. For I simply seek to explain the gospel, yes, the
‘things which angels desire to look into’ (1 Pet. 1:12b). In this instance,
procrastination is better than impulse.
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Procrastination is to impulse as a weight is
to a horse in a handicap race. The impulsive need to be stopped from racing
ahead of the rest of us. However, procrastination can be debilitating. As we
overthink all the pitfalls that may lie up ahead, we can get ourselves stuck in
the starting gates. Whereas impulse bounds onwards, procrastination plans the
course. As we weigh and measure life’s situations, we must get the balance
right. ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit
down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to
finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able
to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to
finish”?’ (Luke 14:28-30).
We must count the cost before
following Jesus. The Rich Young Ruler did. He thought he would need to give up
too much to follow Jesus. Jesus says, ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul?’ (Mark 8:36). And then there is that other soul-procrastinator,
the rich farmer in the parable, who had a plan. ‘And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have
no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull
down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my
goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for
many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool!
This night your soul will
be required of you; then
whose will those things be which you have provided?”’ (Luke 12:17-20). Yes,
when counting the cost of anything, we must not forget those hidden costs. And we
must not put off till tomorrow what we can do today. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’ (2 Cor. 6:2b).
There have been deathbed conversions, but why wait?
Why procrastinate? Oh, you don’t want to be accused of acting on impulse? To
procrastinate or not to procrastinate? That is the question. Once again,
balance is the thing. The writing is on the wall! It’s as God said to
Belshazzar, ‘You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting’ (Dan. 5:27).
Therefore, why not join with the angels in looking into the gospel? Why remain
an enemy of God? Why not submit to Christ Jesus? God is presently in the process
of extending His Son’s kingdom on earth, one conversion at a time. If you
belong to Jesus, plenty of angels will assist you in your salvation, a.k.a.
escaping the wrath of God. ‘But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My
right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent
forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?’ (Heb.
1:13-14).
Yes, fools
rush in where angels fear to tread. ‘The fool has said in his heart, “There is
no God”’ (Ps. 14:1). What angel would want to go there?!
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