I like the idea of early voting. It takes the pressure off.
Once the vote has been cast, you no longer have to worry about emergencies arising or something such as an illness keeping you from the short window of time you have on “election day” to make it to the voting booth.
Of course tomorrow (November 5) is the big day, but lots of people have taken advantage of early voting opportunities. Laura and I voted last week. The polling place was crowded. It was encouraging to see. Many in our community took advantage of the opportunity and ensured that they would not miss out.
This reminds me of a story I read about an Oklahoma football player named Jacob Jordan.
The last three weeks, Jacob Jordan has been the best wide receiver on the Sooners’ roster. What makes this surprising is that he is a non-scholarship walk-on who almost nobody had ever heard of until just a few weeks ago. He was not expected to see the field this year. However, the top five receivers on the roster all got injured (that is a ridiculously high number of injuries at one position in a year). So Jacob was suddenly thrown into the fire…and he has been fantastic!
What I love the most about his story is what he said when interviewed after making his surprising debut.
Jacob said, “I try to stay ready so that I don’t have to get ready.”
I love that! He says that he stays prepared all of the time just in case today is the day that the coaches call his number and tell him that he is going into the game.
This is the way Christians should live! We should “stay ready” each and every day so that we don’t have to try in vain to “get ready” when our names are called by the Lord.
At that point, it will be too late anyway.
We are encouraged to act “today” when we hear and understand the message of God. Otherwise, we may have hearts that get hard and unreceptive to the truth…we may get deceived by sin. (cf. Heb. 3:7-15)
Jesus told the disciples to always “be on guard” and to “keep awake” (Mark 13:33, 37).
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44).
Once the Lord returns, it will be too late to get ready.
Once we draw our last breath and pass from this life to the next, it will be too late to get ready.
So “vote” early! Don’t wait until it is too late.
Obey the Gospel (Acts 2:36-38) and walk in the light, being honest about sin (1 John 1:7-9).
Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready!
