Why Do We Wait?

Luke 16:19-31

At a busy dental office, there was a patient who was always late for appointments. When calling to confirm an appointment, the patient said, "I’ll be about 15 minutes late. That won’t be a problem, will it?"’
The receptionist replied, "No. We just won’t have time to give you an anesthetic.’
The patient arrived early for his appointment.
Human nature is amazing. We tend to each think we are the exception to the rule. We want to have privileges not afforded to others.
We do the same thing with eternity. We think that we can somehow delay addressing the most important decisions of life and still be pleased with the results.
In our text, we find a man who was concerned about the eternal destiny of his brothers, but only after it was too late for him to do anything about it. He wanted someone else to do what he wouldn’t do and now couldn’t do.
Why do we delay our concern for our own eternity? Why do we not prepare ourselves at the earliest possible time? Why do we wait to be concerned for others until it is too late? We, each of us, have loved ones and friends who are not prepared for eternity, but we delay speaking to them about it.
This man was unprepared for eternity, but when he entered hell unprepared, he was concerned for the souls of his brothers lest they come to his same end. His concern came when it was too late; when he had no ability to have an impact on them receiving that message. Why do we wait until it is too late to be concerned about the eternity of others?

I. HAVE DISTRACTIONS-
This rich man was too busy with his life and his pursuits to consider eternity
He was too caught up in his own life. His life kept him from living his life
He had to think about his wardrobe and his parties and banquets
Sis. Nancy asked me this morning about what she was wearing
We get concerned about whether we are wearing the right brands
We aren’t really that different from him.
He had to pay attention to the business that afforded him such a lavish lifestyle
Life is so busy and we find a way to fill all of our time
We are always rushing about from one place to another with commitments
Luke 12:15 Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

II. HAVE TIME-
We never consider that eternity is just a breath away
None of us think that we might die at any moment
Surely if we considered that today might be our last on earth, we would live differently
Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jesus previously told a similar story of a man who thought he had time
He pulled down barns and built bigger barns because of his prosperity
Luke 12:19-20 Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,