Just a quick note about this new series. The addressees in the “letters” do exist in real life. However, their names have been changed for privacy reasons. Also, certain dynamics of the situations that I address in certain “letters” have also been changed to protect their identities and reputations.
It’s my hope and prayer that, as you read each “letter” in this 10 part series, you’ll gain some blessing and encouragement from each “letter”, and that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart as you read. Thank you and God bless!
Dear Betsy,
Recently God has laid a deep impression on my heart to write to you.
I honestly feel like this “small issue” you have contains some deadly potential that’s working against your eternal destiny.
What is this “small issue?” you ask.
It’s simply this: PROCRASTINATION.
What I mean by procrastination, Betsy, isn’t only just things like schoolwork and chores–that kind of procrastination can be dealt with.
But the most DANGEROUS form of procrastination is the one you’re seriously dabbling in.
I’m writing about your procrastination in spiritual things.
Betsy, please don’t feel or think I’m trying to condemn you or judge you. No, that is NOT my intention here in writing this letter to you.
I’m writing this letter to you because I care about your salvation. I’m writing this letter to you because I don’t want you to go through what Ellen White describes in her book, Steps To Christ:
“Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger—a danger not sufficiently understood—in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God’s Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction.“
–steps to christ pg. 32–
Again, Betsy, this is why I’m writing this letter to you. I don’t want you to fall into an infinite, eternal, and destructive loss!
Please consider these Bible verses:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short…
(1 corinthians 7:29)
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
(revelation 12:12)
On one side, Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians that “time is short.” On the other side, the Bible says in Revelation that satan himself KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS that time on Earth is short!
Betsy, time is short! Our lives as humans are short! We’re not guaranteed tomorrow!
while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
(Hebrews 3:15)
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
(2 corinthians 6:2)
It’s true, dear Betsy, that you’re young and you feel like you have your whole life ahead of you. However, even being young doesn’t guarantee you have all the time in the world to make a firm decision to surrender your whole life to Christ and His will.
What Paul is saying here in Hebrews and 2 Corinthians is that NOW is the time to surrender everything to God! TODAY is the day to answer and accept Jesus’ call to truly follow Him and genuinely work for Him!
Please, Betsy, don’t procrastinate in giving your life to God and fully yielding your all to His will! What happened to my cousin could easily happen to you!
The thing was that he was ready to go.
But what about you?
Don’t feel scared by this, Betsy.
Paul also tells us something else we ought to really remember in 2 Timothy:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(2 timothy 1:7)
Betsy, God desires to give you that powerful, mind-transforming love to help you overcome this procrastination problem you have.
You have HOPE, Betsy!
After reading this letter, I wanna encourage you to pray. Ask God to forgive you for procrastinating in doing His will and reading His Holy Word. Pray that God will help you stop putting off time to truly serve Him and know Him.
Here’s a beautiful promise you can claim and meditate on, Betsy:
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
(Psalm 62:8)
God will be your refuge and strength as you pour out before Him your struggles with procrastination. He is more than happy to listen. And He is even happier to help you and heal you from it.
My Prayers Are With You Always,
Aleah R.
Blogger & Digital Missionary