Patience- Stop And Smell The Roses

Does anyone here know who "Million Dollar Bill" is? If you guessed Bill Gates, then you would be wrong. Another nickname is "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville." In the year 1987, at Talladega Motor Speedway, Bill Elliot set the fastest recorded speed for a qualifying lap at 212.809 mph. This was the fastest miles per hour recorded for qualifying in a NASCAR event. The cars ran so fast that they literally began to lift off the speedway, creating a major safety issue. The speeds were so fast, and they really could not handle the cars. NASCAR would implement the restrictor plate. If you are not a race fan, or not a car person at all, here is what a restrictor plate does: The device limits the power output of the engine, therefore slowing the acceleration and the overall speed. The horsepower of these machines is phenomenal. In 2004, Rusty Wallace tested a car at Talladega Super Speedway without a restrictor plate, and reached a top speed of 228 mph in the backstretch, and had a one lap average of 221 mph. Wallace would describe the experience as "out of control," and he also said that "there is no way that we could race at those speeds." The restrictor plates have slowed the cars' speeds significantly, and they now average around 187 mph- still very fast for most of us. But is it really?We all seem to be going faster and faster, until we actually find out-as Rusty Wallace said- that we are out of control. The things that we are doing are no longer fun, and have become extremely dangerous.

We have become a society of "I want it now." I mean, look back, say 25-30 years. The cell phone was straight out of Dick Tracy comics, or the Jetsons' TV phones to see the person on the other end. A computer was something that no one needed. But now, something that used to take up a city block will fit in your shirt pocket, and you can access the world from about anywhere at any time. The speed of things today is more than most of us can imagine. If there was a contest for the most popular virtue, I guess that "fast" would beat "best." Many parts of the world seem to be obsessed with speed- but the fast craze is getting us nowhere, fast.

In Carl Honore's book, "In Praise of Slowness," he says, "The time has come to challenge our obsession with doing everything more quickly. Speed is not always the best policy."

I. According to the Bible, he's right. Peter warns that in the last days, people would doubt God because he is slow, "Slack," in fulfilling his promise to return.

READ 2 Peter 3:3-9

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Speed seems to be a relevant term. As we just read, Peter pointed out that seeming slowness is a good thing. God is actually demonstrating his patience by giving his people more time to repent. How would you like God to judge you quickly when you've done something wrong? I mean, call down the wrath of the seven angels in the Revelations on you in judgement? What if we were judged at the speed we try to do things today? We are all multi-taskers, trying to do 2 or 3 things at a time. We seldom only do one thing anymore, and do it well. There is a saying that goes like this: "Why is there never time to do something right, but there is always time to do it over?" It's time to slow down, and change our outlook towards worship. Worship is not just a Sunday thing. It is to be done daily, hourly, or even every minute. The Lord has promised his return, and we need to be ready. Waiting until the last minute is not recommended. Mahatma Gandhi once said: "There is more to life than increasing its speed."