"I'm back, Ms. Roscoe!" he shouted as he came down the hallway. "I'm a changed person, Ms. Roscoe. I'm a good student now. I'm gonna do all my work today!"

"Great to have you back, Marcus," I replied. "I'm looking forward to seeing it. I know you can do it." And I did know he could do it.

Marcus was one of those students who attended school on his terms, when he felt like it. If he felt like paying attention or doing his work, he could answer every question correctly and get perfect scores on quizzes. More often, however, he preferred to sleep or talk to his friends. He would be absent for days at a time, then come back "a changed person" and have one great day before starting the cycle over again.

Two more days

Then, one day, he gave me a different line. Once again Marcus had his head down on his desk and hadn't picked up his pen all class period. "Marcus, let's get to work."

"Give me just two more days, Ms. Roscoe. I'll be a different student. I'll do all my work!" His answer almost made me laugh. He was failing the class, had hardly done anything all semester, and now he wanted more time?

Later it made me think a little harder. How often do I ask God for "just two more days"? I may not use those words, but the attitude is similar. I know the changes I need to make. I can even make them for brief periods sometimes, but I'm not quite ready to make them permanent. Just a few more days…next week…next year...

About to do it?

Another phrase I often hear from my students is, "I'm about to do it!" It's usually accompanied by a grand show of taking out a piece of paper and a pen (perhaps when I check on them for the fourth time during a work period and they have yet to begin the assignment). Having accomplished nothing during the class period, they try to convince me that the intention to start should be just as good as having actually done the work.

Do I ever have that "I'm about to do it" attitude toward God? Great intentions are important, but only if they lead to action. God doesn't think very highly of a person who sees people in need of food and clothing and tells them to "depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but doesn't actually give them what they need (James 2:16). Empty promises don't get us far in life, and they definitely don't go far with God.

Be ready

Jesus Christ is going to literally return to earth—soon. When He does, we must be ready to give an account for what we have done with our lives and with His precious calling. God expects us to be growing spiritually, becoming perfect as He is perfect. Jesus told His disciples, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). He doesn't say, "Think about getting ready." He says, "Be ready."

We don't know when our time on this earth will end. We may have years left of our lives—or just tomorrow. Regardless of how much longer each of us has, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, there won't be "just two more days."

To learn more about using the time of your life wisely, check out "Going After the Good Stuff" from the Vertical Thought archives. VT