Right Now! or I Can Wait!

The Armstrong Browning Library is one of the best-known buildings on the campus of Baylor University. As a History and English Literature student, I spent many hours in that library and its classrooms. It is known around the world as housing the largest collection of books, letters, manuscripts and memorabilia related to Robert and Elizabeth Browning. The building and its contents didn't happen overnight. Dr. A.J. Armstrong served as chair of the English Department at Baylor from 1912 to 1952. His interest in the Brownings lead him to donate his own personal collection of Browning items to Baylor. Thus, began a vision to construct a library on campus focused on Robert and Elizabeth Browning. Over the years he raised funds for the construction. Ground was broken for the $1.75 million dollar building in 1948 and was officially dedicated in 1951. A great dream was fulfilled and a tremendous benefit to students and scholars became a reality.

Can you imagine waiting that long to see your dream become a reality? In our day of "instant everything" we have a hard time waiting in line at a traffic light or picking up a fast -food meal for the family dinner. The speed at which we drive, the constant contact with our phones and laptops, our fear of being late or missing a meeting, email, or call, all indicate our 21st Century sense of self-importance and our personal impatience. When do we want the latest new device or success and recognition - Right Now!

Today, I was privileged to teach our Sunday School class at church. The lesson focused on Caleb who was one of the twelve spies that Moses sent to check out the land that God was giving to the Israelites. Caleb and Joshua were the only two spies who reported that it was time to take possession of the land. The other ten reacted in fear and said the task was impossible. The result was that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

But after that report God promised Caleb certain land for both him and his descendants. Caleb waited 45 years before the promise was fulfilled. Forty-five years is a long time to wait. He was not a Right Now person. He was a I Can Wait person. We have a hard time waiting forty-five minutes for someone to reply to our email or text. He waited forty-five years.

What is the difference in Caleb and you and me. Is it just our culture? Is it a sense of self-importance? Is it that we only see the immediate moment and fail to realize that there are future moments?

Caleb knew who made the promise to him and who he was seeking to follow in every aspect of his life. His commitment was to God. He was doing daily what God had called him to do. Most of all, he trusted that God would fulfill His promise in His time.

And there it is. Too often we expect God to function on our time schedule rather than being willing to function on His time schedule. In the vernacular, we think we are in charge rather than realizing that we are to be obedient to God's directions and instructions. Caleb could wait for his inheritance of land because he understood the reality of His relationship with God.

Is our impatience in this day an indication that we have tried to reverse our relationship with God to the point that we tell God what to do and what we want and expect Him to fulfill our order instantly? This week, I encourage all of us, myself included, to examine our reasons for our impatience and see If we need to get our relationship with God back into its proper perspective. I mentioned in my article last week that one of my favorite verses of scripture is Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." It takes time to truly know God and to learn to live in His time schedule.

So, what is our choice? Right Now - I am in charge! or I Can Wait - God, you are in charge!