Lie: You have lots of time.
I once heard a talk by a nun who said that one of the devil’s favorite lies is to convince us that we have more time. In other words, there is always time to get serious later. Satan convinces us to delay something so it never gets started or completed. It is not difficult to see the power in this lie. Just as the devil plays a game of diversion with our fears and anxieties, he plays the same type of game with our sense of time.
By convincing us that we have plenty of time to work on the spiritual side of our life, he also tells us that we should put those things off that will draw us closer to God.
He convinces us that our sins aren’t that big of a deal; that we can attend to them later. Yet scripture says the opposite. The following are just a few of the verses from scripture which warn us of this very lie and help us to remember to be awake and be ready.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12)
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:12-14)
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Matthew 24:42-44)
Saint John Bosco’s words are also helpful for us to remember:
“The principle trap that the devil sets for young people are idleness. This is a fatal source of all evil. Do not let there be any doubt in your mind that we are born to work and when we don’t we are out of our element and in great danger of offending God . . . First, tell the devil to rest . . . then I’ll rest too!” -Saint John Bosco.
