Overdue!?

"Overdue?  Again?  Aw, come on?  How could this be overdue?  I just _____ it not too long ago.  How could it possibly be overdue?"  You can fill in that blank yourself.  Sometimes that blank is referring to a library book, as in, "I just checked that book out not too long ago."  It could also refer to a bill.  You know, like, "I just paid that bill just yesterday.  Wait, was it yesterday or was it last week.  Hmmm, anyway, I KNOW it can't be due today."

That context is the first, and probably the readiest, definition for the word "overdue".  However, take a look at the next two definitions.  Wow!  Read on.

2.  too long awaited; needed or expected for some time: Improvements in our highway system are long overdue.

"Too long awaited; needed or expected for some time."  I'm sure dictionary.com did not intend this the way I'm going to spin it, but think about this.  You may have been praying for something for quite some time.  It seems like you have invested a lot of energy into that thing and still you've no answer.  It feels like the answer is "overdue".  We've waited too long.  Paul told the Thessalonians, "Don't be weary in doing good." (2 Thes 3:13)  But, the context is equally as important as those words.  See, the Thessalonians had some folks in their church that were causing an uproar, doing things they should not have been doing.  So, Paul tells the church to "keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life." (6)  A few verses later, Paul says, "We hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." (11)  Then, he says, "But you, don't be weary in doing good.  Don't worry about the trouble they are causing.  You just keep doing good.  Punishment may be around the corner; the longed-for revival is coming.  You just keep doing what you should be."  Here's an interesting conclusion to this thought.  Paul told the Galatians, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." (Ga 3:9-10)  See, not only does it fit but it makes sense!  Just keep doing the good thing.  Eventually, you will reap the benefit of the planted crop.

3.  more than sufficiently advanced, mature, or ready: That country is overdue for industrial development.

 I think John the Revelator would probably have agreed most readily with this definition.  In fact, I think he could have used "overdue" at the end of the Book of Revelations.  John tells us, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."  He might just as well have concluded with , "Amen.  You're overdue!"  I don't know what you think about eschatology, whether you are pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation, pre- or amillenial. At this point, I'm not particular.  Being a child of God, you know that in the end, we will be in Heaven, with the One who died for our sins.  The Church has been saying for years, "Ah, come!  Evil is rampant, and except for our Lord's return, we will all be lost.  There has been "more than sufficient time passed.  We are advanced in years and we are ready.  Even so, come!  You're overdue!  Come, Lord Jesus."  Perhaps, that prayer is something so personal that it doesn't deal with the end time.  Perhaps you've been praying for relief from a burden and all that you can say is, "Come, Lord Jesus."  Don't lose hope, friend.  Keep hoping. Keep praying.  Our God hears and is on His way.  Yes, the answer may take years to unfold, but I can assure you, the full fulfillment of that response will be completed on His time table.

So, until He comes in whatever way is needed, you "be not weary in doing good" because in His good timing, the answer will come.  "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

Poweraid

Yep.  I know.  I spelled the name of that athletic drink wrong.  First, I'm not endorsing a product.  Second, I wanted to get your attention.  It worked, right?  You're reading this, at least to this point.  So, gotcha! 

Actually, I do want to play off that word a little.  The original product is said to "help replenish four electrolytes lost in sweat. [The product] is formulated with a [certain amount of] carbohydrate solution to help provide energy to working muscles and vitamins."  If you're like me, I'm sure you've been working hard lately, inundated with a project list that never seems to end. The line just keeps getting longer.  You may be feeling like you need something to help you replace your "electrolytes and energy" to make it to the end.  Perhaps you feel like you're slogging through molasses (for some who don't know, that's a really thick syrup) and continually fighting to stay up, catch up, or at least squeak by to the bitter end.  Sometimes, life is just like that.  Keeping one's nose to the grindstone sometimes means that you can't see the end, that all you see is what is immediately in front of you.

If that describes you, I have some good news for you.  Projects come and go.  Every project does have and end at some point.  You may be saying, "But, that's a loooooong way off even yet!  I'm not sure I can make it."  To coin an old political slogan, "YES, YOU CAN!"  Just keep pressing.  Don't let off on the gas.  Don't stop.  Just keep moving.  One foot in front of the next foot.  One thought in front of the next thought. One letter in front of the next letter.  KEEP GOING.  Before you know it, you'll be done.

You might be one of those people who see the shortness of time and feel the pressure of overdue projects, realizing that you "don't have enough time" to get it all done.  I know that feeling.  I can tell you this much, miraculously or not, if you keep applying yourself, you will also complete the run.  Whoever told you life was just an extension of your undergrad was completely fooling you.  It's grueling, arduous, difficult, and blessed.

So, wherever you are, however you feel, don't stop now.  Just keep moving.  Time marches on and you cannot slow it down nor speed it up.  But, eventually, the finish line will be under your feet and then behind you, rather than looming in front of you.  Keep moving on.  You're going to make it!  This is gut check time, the time to push, pull, plod, lumber, slog, and trudge on.  By God's grace and His ever enduring mercy, you will make it.