When God led me to go into the ministry full time, I knew I needed to obey Him early. I have heard people talk about how they ‘struggled’ with God before they finally obeyed Him. I have also been privileged to be exposed to sound teachings on pursuing God’s purpose early enough, this helped my response to God. Indeed, I thank God I did.
Friend, your destiny is timed. You don’t have eternity to do what God has sent you here to do. Life must be lived in the consciousness of divine timing (Psalms 90:12, Luke 2:49). What you should do at age 17, you should not wait until age 71 to attempt it. This is why we are admonished to “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
The fact that you started out early and young is not a guarantee that you would finish well and on time. When you look at the privilege that Joshua had of being called at a young age, with the benefit of mentorship from Moses, you would have thought he would use this to his advantage. He did not. At the tail end of his life, God had this to say to him, “…you are old and advanced in age, yet there are still very much land to possess” (Joshua 13:1).
If the Ancient of Days says you are old, then you are really old! God seemed to be telling Joshua that he had wasted time and opportunities, that he did not take advantage of his early discovery of God and purpose. He was ‘cat walking’ instead of running. Remember that he was told that, “wherever the sole of your feet shall tread upon, that I have given you” (Joshua 1:3). Joshua never knew that with this promise came a responsibility to run.
What about you? Won’t you maximize the fact that you have come to know God early to your advantage? Don’t you think you need to run? Divine vision is for runners and not loafers (Habakkuk 2:2). It is for those who would live every day and second as if it’s their last. It is for those who would follow through with passion and commitment ensuring that they lay hold of that for which Christ as laid hold of them (Acts 26:19, Philippians 3:12).
The devil is a master at distracting people. He knows that you only have enough time to do what you have been sent here to do, so he would engage you with the wrong things. Some of these things are not necessarily sinful or negative. In fact, a lot of them are positive attractions, but distractions in disguise. You need to tap into divine wisdom and sensitivity today (Psalms 90:12, Romans 8:14). May your destiny not be delayed! Amen!
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria