Sometimes when I reflect back on my life, I wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed to do something great for the Kingdom of God. How much time have I wasted? How many times have I said, “I’ll do it tomorrow” yet never got around to it. Many years ago, I was impacted by a verse in the book of Joshua.
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” – Joshua 3:5
I really felt God was giving me a message through his Word. I felt that I needed to take a close look at my life and “clean it up” so that I could be used by God in some way. I felt that “tomorrow” God would do amazing things through me for his Kingdom. (I believe that this is true for all Christ followers!)
If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21
Now years later, I wonder how many opportunities I have missed. How many times have I allowed fear of failure to stop me from stepping out in faith? How many times have I been too busy focusing on my current circumstances to believe God for the bigger picture? How many times have I been looking the other way when God is trying to get my attention?
Today I read another passage of Scripture that helped me to see that it’s not too late. With God, it’s never too late!
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past…See, I am doing a new thing!” The devil would love for us to convince ourselves that because we missed an opportunity (or many) we’ll never get another one. But if we’re still here on this earth, then God is not done with us! While it may be true that we can’t go back in time and change anything, it is also true that God can redeem the time we’ve missed. It is never too late to be used by God. It is never too late to be a “special utensil for honorable use…for every good work.”
Lord, I want to be used by you! Help me to tune in to every moment. Help me to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can make the most of every opportunity you give me. Help me to impact this world for you, Jesus, before you take me home.