"Promises And Procrastination"

"I promise thee. Thy will be done. My word is always true!"
"I thank thee son for diligence, and faith to follow through!"

To God, he swore a pact today. The Lord waited patiently.
The days turned into weeks and then, He asked him silently.

"Didst thou forget the oath agreed? No effort has been made."
With flushed red face he answered quick, "My obedience will not fade!"

"In thee, my hope and belief is great! My trust I pledge to thee!"
The weeks turned into months and then, the Lord returned to see.

"Didst thou forget the oath agreed? It's months, since I did plea."
The servant hung his head again; then begged Him to appease.

"Forgiven once, and forgiven twice. My love for thee is firm!"
The months turned into years and then, the Lord remembered terms.

"Didst thou forget the oath agreed? So many years have past!"
The servant shamed could hardly speak, He asked for one more chance.

"I know I've sinned. I feel remorse. The pact I will obey!"
And with repentant voice and charm, he left with no delay.

The years did end. His life was through. Time for him, ran out.
He found himself in the Spirit World, wandering all about.

And there God met him face to face, a conversation ensued.
"Didst thou forget the oath agreed? I've waited to hear from you!"

He looked into His eyes so sad, confessed, and then he cried.
"The promises I made to Thee, were no more than a lie."

POET'S COMMENTS

How often do we say; "Someday, I will..."

Because we are all humans, we make mistakes. God gave us repentance to correct the error of our ways, and thereby move forward not looking back. However, the moment we choose to repent, is just as important as the act of repenting. Postponing a change in behavior delays our eternal progression. It also allows Satan to gain power over us.

No matter how much we desire in our heart to be better, we never will become better until we act. It has been said, "The road to lower glories and kingdoms, is paved with good intentions." Our true intention to follow Christ is demonstrated by what we do today. The Old Testament admonishes us, "...Choose ye this day, whom ye shall serve..." (Joshua 24:15)

This poem illustrates what so often happens. Our commitment is well intended, but does not come to pass. We make other choices, and in so doing; we fail our God. In the end, the outcome is sad, and we must accept our fate. For, it is what we chose. We chose to break the oath!

Procrastination turns good intentions into a lie; and often, into a series of broken promises. Honor and integrity is lost as well as the rewards that would have come from living the oath and covenant made. When one eventually desires to claim the price, it is gone. It was traded for something of far less value; immediate gratification, pleasure in the moment, self indulgence.

Alma, in the Book of Mormon is known for his voice of warning regarding "procrastination." The following scriptures speak of the danger of procrastination. The prophet Alma's words ring as true today, as they did in his time.

"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. " (Alma 34:33-35)

"But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head." (Helaman 13:38)

"And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;" (Alma 13:27) Remember the oath you made, and live it today!