In ancient history is found a story that parallels a fault of many—the peril of delay.
The army of one nation was marching to war against that of another. The general of one army sent a message to the general of the other demanding unconditional surrender. The reply came back: "I will think about it.”
On receiving this answer the challenging general's lip curled with scorn. With a grim smile he turned to his staff. Said he: "Aha! let him think! While he thinks, we will march.”
At last, when it was too late, when his army had been vanquished by the marching foe and he himself was a prisoner, the thinking general wished he had acted instead.
The most blatant lie with which Satan deludes men and women is this: "You have plenty of time to think about salvation." While his dupes are swallowing his bait, he is congratulating himself upon their folly. Scornfully he is saying to Death: "Let them think! While they are thinking, we will march.”
All unperceived by the procrastinating victim, Death —grim, certain, inevitable death— draws nearer and nearer. Meanwhile a Voice utters the warning to delaying men and women: "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:7, 87Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Hebrews 3:7‑8).
Jesus Christ, in tender sorrow and reproof, is crying, "How often would I have gathered you, but ye would not.”