There is an old fable that tells of three novice demons who are on their way to earth to finish their apprenticeship in the art of temptation. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt people to live only for themselves and keep God out of their lives.
“Before I let you loose in the world,” Satan said, “I need to know what deceitful message you are going to whisper in the ears of people so that they end up here in hell.”
“That’s easy,” said the first demon. “I will just tell them there is no God.”
“That won’t work,” said Satan. “There is too much beauty on Earth. They would simply look around at the mountains and sky, the seas and the forests, and know that there is a God. Most people believe that much.”
“I will tell them there is no hell,” said the second demon.
“That won’t work either,” said Satan. “The world is full of so much pain and suffering, injustice and cruelty that people know hell must exist as a place of punishment for the wicked.”
The third demon thought for a moment and then said, “I will tell them that there is no hurry.”
“Excellent!” Satan declared. “People will be fooled into believing that there’s plenty of time to change. Let them neglect the Gospel until it is too late.”
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The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time. The fable serves as a warning to us all. None of us, no matter how young, healthy, happy, or successful knows how much time they actually have left in this life.
We all hope to one day die peacefully in our beds at an old age while still in reasonable health, without any suffering. We hope, no matter how old we are, that the day is still decades away.
The demons whisper in our ear constantly to put things off: “make amends with your family another day… give up that bad habit next year… take your faith more seriously some time down the road… you have time… plenty of time.”
But then one day you don’t.
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James 4:14 – “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
Luke 12:40 – (Jesus said), “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Matthew 25:13 – (Jesus said), “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
James 2:19-20 — You believe that there is one God. You do well. But even the demons believe—and tremble. But do you not know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Proverbs 27:1 — Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Hebrews 4:7 — …Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
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TWO PRAYERS FROM AN OLD HYMNAL:
O Lord, who leads us by ways we know not, deliver us from evils we know all too well. From vain imaginings and foolish fears, from wandering desires and empty purposes, from ambitions that entangle and perplex us, good Lord, deliver us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, we are set in the midst of many and great dangers. Preserve us from any sudden fall into those evils which so easily beset us. Grant us a spirit of watchfulness and prayer, so that we may walk without shame in the paths of life. Make us strong in all wisdom and virtue, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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