Articles
Remind Me Tomorrow
Remind me Tomorrow
If you have an Apple computer, you know what it’s like to be asked to run software updates every couple weeks. The tab pops up, says, “Updates Available,” and gives me 4 options. 1) Update and restart now. 2) Try again in an hour. 3) Try again tonight. 4) Remind me tomorrow. I’ll click “Remind me tomorrow” every day for weeks, then get mad when it actually reminds me tomorrow. It’s my fault, I know, but I do it for several reasons. First, I’m afraid of the changes. I just got used to the settings from the last update, then the new update changes the settings again. Second, I’m afraid I’ll lose documents when I restart after the update. I don’t want to lose what I’ve worked so hard to keep. Finally, it takes time. Why stop everything I’m doing and wait for this software update, then wait for the computer to restart? (Someone should preach a sermon about complaining; I think there’s a dove in my office.)
Consider Acts 24:24-25. “But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.’” Paul told Felix he needed a soul update. He was a Jew living under the old Law of Moses software and he needed to put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His response to Paul’s warning? “Remind me tomorrow.” Paul’s message was frightening! I can’t read Felix’s mind, but I wonder if his fear was similar to my fear of software updates, but on a larger scale. I wonder if he was afraid to make changes in his life because he had grown comfortable with the old settings, living the way he wanted to live. Maybe he was afraid of what he’d have to give up to follow Jesus. Maybe he was afraid to put in the time to make the change and grow spiritually the way the Lord required.
Here’s the kicker: I know the update is what’s best for my computer. It makes things run smoother. The longer I click “Remind me tomorrow,” the worse my computer performs. Change for the better is easy to put off, but we always pay a price for it. Jesus made demands on Felix’s life, and while it was easier for him to say, “Remind me tomorrow, go away for the present,” it took a toll on him spiritually. Every time he put off service to Christ, he missed out on righteousness, forfeited self-control, and remained unprepared for the judgment to come. There’s coming a time for all of us when there won’t be anymore tomorrows. It’s time to update and restart now. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17).
