I once heard the following illustration:
An eagle had landed on a large piece of ice floating down a river. The eagle found his prey there, killed it and began to eat. The eagle knew there was a great waterfall downstream. But the eagle thought, "I'll continue my feasting until I'm near the falls, and then I'll just flyaway". So he continued to eat. Just as the roar of the falls became deafening, the eagle lifted his great wings to fly away, but it was no use. His feet were frozen fast into the ice. And so the eagle was pulled over the falls to his death.
In much the same way, people become entrapped in sin. The
scriptures teach us that Satan is a liar. John 8:44.
Satan entices with many lies through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. ( 1 John 2:16). One of his greatest lies is this: There is plenty aftime.
This is the lie that ensnares many. Just continue in sin for now, because there is plenty of time to serve God later. Unfortunately, like the ice in the illustration, sin can gain a powerful hold on our lives if we continue in it. Felix the governor was moved by the gospel, yet decided to wait for a "convenient season". ( Acts 24:25).
We have no promise of tomorrow. The rich farmer in Jesus' parable thought he had plenty of time but the Lord called him a
fool. ( Luke 12: 16-21). Even if we live a long time, our hearts can become hardened to the point that we will not repent.
The Hebrew writer warns, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." ( Hebrews 3:13). Let us all heed that warning, and serve God now while there is still time.