It is the day of your wedding. You realize you never got around to booking the venue. Quick…what do you do? Call in a bomb threat? Well, hopefully not, but that is exactly what panicked groom, Neil McArdle did! When McArdle, a.k.a., the “ka-boom groom” realized that he hadn’t booked his wedding venue, he called in a bomb threat to cause a diversion and cover up his mistake!
Every one of us has procrastinated or forgotten to follow-up on details. Sometimes we try to cover-up our mistakes, usually making matters worse. McArdle could not face telling his fiancée, Amy Williams, that he there was no booking. Rather than confessing, he called in a bomb threat which caused the evacuation of the famed St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, and left his bride standing on the sidewalk in her dress with her wedding party. McArdle will be spending 12 months in jail (which may be the safest place for him right now)!
Scripture warns us about procrastination and inattentiveness. The message is simple: don’t put off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. Jesus warned His disciples: reconcile with brothers immediately (Matthew 5:23-24); deal with anger before the sun goes down (Ephesians 4:26); and share the gospel today (Luke 14:21). New Testament writers tell us to hear His voice today (Hebrews 3:12-13, 15), and avoid the arrogance that we are assured a tomorrow (James 4:13-14).
But perhaps it is Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:1-13 that best explains God’s view of procrastination. Ten virgins were waiting on the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were prepared; five procrastinated until it was too late, and they were left behind. Jesus calls the unprepared virgins “foolish.” Like McArdle, they failed to properly prepare, and they paid the price for trying to “fix” it at the last minute.
Friends, are you prepared? Or are you still procrastinating? There won’t be any confusion when Jesus comes. Reserve your spot in heaven today! Become a child of God and live the faithful life, fervently waiting for His return. This is one reservation you will want to confirm.
