The Urgency of Now

John 2:1-10

There is no time like now! W. Clement Stone made the phrase “Do it now” the first commandment of success. He would have his employees repeat it every morning. The French statesman Charles Alexandre de Calonne’s response to the Queen’S request, Marie Antoinette was, “We do the difficult immediately the impossible takes a little longer. Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. speaking about the war in Vietnam in 1967 said, “We are faced with the facts my friend that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late.”

As the New Year settles in take inventory of what needs to be done in your life now. Don’t wait! How much pain would be avoided later if one were to move into action now? Striving to understand the value and importance of God’s timing is an urgent matter. Often God permits us to be confronted with challenging circumstances that appear final when He calls us to move into action. Whatever He commands of you at that time and place, “just do it” and leave the outcomes to Him. What is God calling for you to do now?

Weddings were, and are, a big deal in the Jewish culture. In Jewish custom the marriage feast could endure for days, depending on the wealth of the groom. Many weeks of preparation took place and often the whole town was invited and everybody would come. To accommodate many people, careful planning was needed. One of the main highlights of a celebration of this magnitude was the wine. To run out of wine was more than embarrassing; it broke the strong unwritten laws of hospitality. The host would leave a blot on the family’s reputation.

When Jesus and His disciples arrived at the wedding Mary informed Jesus that they had run out of wine. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? My hour is not yet come.” Mary turned and said to the servants, “Whatever he says do it.” There were six waterpots of stone. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. Then Jesus said, “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.” And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine he called the bridegroom and said, “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”

Consider the Message of God’s Timing

It was the third day

The bible gives several accounts that refer to the third day but the most notable is the resurrection of Christ on the third day. What is evident about the third day is a theme of God’s timing of deliverance, salvation and life. Jesus’ timing is impeccable. He showed up at the right time just when the wine would run out.

It’s not my hour

Jesus really was saying “My dear woman; the timing is not ripe yet. This is not my hour. I do have another hour but this is not that hour.” He had another hour that involved wine where he would take the bread and pass the cup. He knew that this miracle would be the beginning of miracles and no retreat.

Whatever He tells you to do

Mary told the servants, “Whatever he says, do it!” The implication in this passage is that they did not wait but moved with urgency for to run out of wine would be an embarrassment to all parties involved. Jesus told them to fill the water pots up with water and serve wine to the Governor of the feast. This passage teaches us that there is a time of urgency. When God says do it, do it now. The need needed to be met then and there. Jesus could have done it without the aid of the servants but He chose to use them. There are times when we are waiting on God to move and He is waiting on us to do what He said first.

Saved the best till now

Many people read the passage in error. This passage does not say the best was saved for last but that the best was saved for now. Now can never be interpreted as later. Now is all that is presently available. Now is the appointed time.

The “Urgency of Now” applied to everyone in this passage:

1. The guest needed wine to keep the party going.
2. The couple needed to save face and the servants needed to save their jobs.
3. The Governor’s primary duties were to regulate the distribution of wine to prevent excess that would ruin the party. Some might have held him partly responsible for the host’s running out of wine prematurely.
4. For thirty years Mary held on to what the angel said. All of her life there had been some issues surrounding her Son’s birth. She was always making a defense for herself concerning her reputation. Mary had been awaiting vindication from her skeptics. What she was really asking was, “Is it my time yet? I need you to show them who you are for me.” Here was a chance to reassure her faith and reestablish the fact that Jesus was the Son of God.

Here is the point! You Never Know How Bad Someone Needs A “Right Now” Miracle.

Why is this message of the Urgency of Now so vital? All we have is right now. We can’t push a rewind button and change what has already happen because life has nor rewind button and there is no fast forward button in life that moves us into the future. Right now is all that you have and the danger of waiting until someday can be too costly.

This message is for the person who talks about going back to school but never fills out the application. It is for the person who talks about getting in shape but never goes to the gym. It is for the person who needs to mend some relationship but will not pick up the phone. It is for the person who knows that God has called you to serve in a ministry yet you sit week after week in the pew saying, “Some day.”  It is possible that you can miss your “Now” moment.

The relevant question is how do I make the best of now?

Invite Jesus Into Your Now

2 Corinthians 6:2 – (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Do What He Tells You To Do Now

Hebrews 3:15 – While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Leave The Outcomes To Him

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Do it Now!!!

Dr. Oscar T. Moses