The Perils of Postponement

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 27:1There are a few reasons people reject the Gospel upon hearing it. Some are rebellious, others are too self-righteous to recognize their need for a Savior. But perhaps the most common reason is procrastination.People will put it off, thinking that they will have plenty of time to receive Christ later on.But Proverbs 27:1 warns us of the perils of postponement: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”There are four reasons why no one should put off being saved.First, if we put it off until tomorrow, we will lose today.Adrian Rogers says, “A day lived without the Lord Jesus is a day that is lost for all eternity.”Second, our hearts will grow harder.In Acts 24, Paul is a prisoner of Caesarea. The Roman judge, Felix, calls for him to answer questions he has about Jesus Christ. Paul preaches a Christ-centered message, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit is so strong, Felix trembles. Felix was at the threshold of salvation, but then he did something that so many people do: he told Paul, “When I have a convenient season, I will call for you” (Acts 24:25). As a result, Felix lost his conviction; he strayed further and further away from God.Likewise, our hearts will get harder over time; it will be more difficult for us to receive Jesus tomorrow than it will be today. Adrian Rogers says, “Tomorrow you will have more sin to repent of. And tomorrow you will have a harder heart to repent with.”Third, there is always the danger of sudden death.Death is a reality many of us choose to ignore. But every day is a gift from God; it is arrogant to assume we will live to see another day, and ignorant to assume what each day will look like.Finally, Jesus is coming again, and those who aren’t saved will be left behind.We are closer to the Second Coming than ever before; if He comes while you are unsaved, it will be too late for you. This is why we ought to be vigilant, taking advantage of the day we’ve been given to receive salvation and follow Jesus.Apply it to your lifeAre you certain that you are saved? As Proverbs 27 warns us, every day is a gift from God; don’t waste today unsaved.