Scripture Reflections

If you read Hebrews 3 and 4 in one sitting, you might be surprised by how often the word “today” shows up. The writer of Hebrews, quoting Psalm 95, says repeatedly, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Lest the congregation be confused about which day he means, he says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today…’”

As a lifelong procrastinator who needs the pressure of a deadline to get something done, “today” means “next week” to me! But Hebrews doesn’t agree with the procrastinator, at least on this front. Hebrews sounds more like II Corinthians 6, which claims, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Not tomorrow, but today!

I had an old professor of Greek literature in college who would advocate for putting off work as long as possible. “After all,” he would say, “you might die before it is due. Why waste your last minutes on a school assignment?” Whether or not he was right about essays on Greek literature is up to the school teachers to say, but for Paul and the writer of Hebrews, we can’t treat our approach to God like this.

If the work of the day is repentance, prayer, or the study of Scripture, there is no time to delay! Now is the favorable time! God calls us to respond to him, and it is no good to say, “Tomorrow I will get around to repentance; on Sunday I will worship.” Every day is the day we are called to turn back, to lift our voices, to listen to God.

I don’t know if my old professor was a Christian, but if he was, I hope he agreed. Some things are too important to put off. God created us to be in communion with him, and any moment wasted is a tragedy. Let us strive to pursue God today.

Steven+