Don't Miss the Moment

The tendency of our faith is up and down. I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced that frustration. One day you're hot and ready for the Lord's work, the other day you're cold as ice. I believe part of it is being human. Our flesh does not want the Lord. Our flesh wants our own way, rest, ease, and isolation. But it is then we find ourselves in desperation for the very One who saved us from all of that in the first place. 

In Song of Solomon 5, what began as a hot torrid love affair has slid into apathetic coolness.

Song of Solomon 5:2 (ESV) I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.”

The woman hears the knock of her lover calling out to her. What is the response?

Song of Solomon 5:3 (ESV) I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?

She had gotten comfortable, and settled in bed. She didn't want to exert the energy to respond to his unexpected call. 

Undeterred, the lover reached out.

Song of Solomon 5:4 (ESV) My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.

She finally responds... 

Song of Solomon 5:5 (ESV) I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.

She gets out of bed and opens to Him... but it's too late. 

Song of Solomon 5:6 (ESV) I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.

The chapter is about missed opportunities. She had perhaps a golden chance to experience a wonderful night but she hesitated. And later she paid a high price.

Song of Solomon 5:7 (ESV) The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls.

Alone and beaten down her cry is the same as ours in those times of apathetic coolness toward the Lord.

Song of Solomon 5:8 (ESV) I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.

Her final condition is desperation for him. She has learned a valuable lesson. Apathy toward her true love is dangerous for her identity. 

What is the lesson here? 

I believe there are special moments the Lord wants with us. And when they come we must not let them pass by. Scripture commands us to respond to the Lord TODAY. 

John 5:25 (ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Hebrews 3:15 (ESV) As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV) For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The best time to reach out to God is NOW. The best time to love your loved ones is now. Apathy can slip into our lives unannounced and when it is there, we may, unfortunately, accommodate its deception, that we are well settled in our lives and need alone time. Do not miss the moment!

Christ has promised to never leave us. Unlike the king in this passage, when we open the door to Him, He's there. He's ready to receive us. Now is the time to talk with Him.

James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.