Acts 21:1-16 | Preparing for DeathSample

Making Time

Acts 21:1-8 documents nine stops which cover over 650 miles Paul makes as he travels toward his destination of Jerusalem. Luke, the author of Acts, doesn’t detail how long Paul stayed at each of his stops, but he directs our focus to how many disciples Paul took the time to connect with and some of the conversation they had.

Paul needed to be somewhere; he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem before Passover. He was in a hurry, but did not rush past the relationships he had formed during his mission journeys. He knew this could be final goodbyes.

Most of us who are still in the prime of life have deadlines. We're in a hurry. We have places we need to be and responsibilities. Calendars are full and task lists continue to grow. They demand our attention and capture our focus. It is easy for us to have tunnel vision and miss the opportunities to stop and spend time with those we love. We rationalize that there will be a time when things will slow down so we can build into those relationships. If we’re not careful, that time never comes.

There’s an old adage that those who plan to repent at 11 pm often die at 10:30. The same can be said for those who plan to prioritize family and friends someday.

In those moments when the possibility of death becomes all too real, people tend to realize getting right with God is what’s most important. They also tend to realize it was the people in their life that were important. Maybe family. Maybe old friends. Maybe, because of whatever life circumstances, people God has brought into our lives more recently.

If getting right with God is what’s truly important, why wait until death becomes all too real? Turn to Jesus today. Ask him to forgive you. Tell him you want a relationship with him. Let him know you want him to be a part of your life, and that you want your life to be a part of his.

If the people in your life are what’s truly important, why wait until death becomes all too real? Let them know what they mean to you. Don’t delay. Foster or reconcile those relationships. Today.

Paul was heading to his death, and the truth is, we are, too. At least someday. Take the time for the people who matter most – Jesus, and the people in your life. Don’t wait until 11 pm. Recognize those moments every day.