“Do thy diligence to come before winter.” II
Timothy 4:21
The Apostle Paul was desiring that Timothy come visit him before
winter. If Timothy were to wait until the winter time to come, the
sea upon which Timothy would have to sail could be dangerous during
the winter months. Secondly, Paul’s time on earth was short. He was
encouraging Timothy not to wait, lest he be too late. Historians are
not sure if Timothy ever made it to see Paul before Paul was
martyred.
When the Lord inspires us to do something, let us be sure to ‘come
before winter.’ Let us not wait, but rather take the opportunity
that we have before circumstances change. If the Lord leads us to
visit, call, or help someone, that is the time to follow through
lest we are too late to minister to the present need someone may
have.
If someone opens themselves to us and desires council, prayer, or
just a listening ear, let us be faithful to follow through and lay
other things aside. Many a person has been willing and ready to move
toward God but has been put off by those that could help them.
Later, the conviction and opportunity is past and it can never be
recaptured.
Many years ago a minister felt a heavy burden to once again talk to
a banker friend who wasn’t saved. The minister traveled a distance
to visit his friend. The banker told the minister that he had
written desiring for him to come but hadn’t sent it. The minister
talked to his friend about his soul. The banker prayed and was
saved. After praying, the banker fell over dead. If the minister
hadn’t been faithful to act immediately when the Lord impressed him,
the banker would have gone into eternity unprepared to meet God.
How important it is to witness and minister to those around us when
we feel impressed and led of the Lord before the opportunity is
gone.
“Do thy diligence to come before winter” lest it be too late.
