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Verse:And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. —Romans 13:11, 12, KJV
My daughter, Keziah, and I were going to Margarita Island, which is northeast of Venezuela. We would be part of a school trip for the Form 5 Spanish students. Having not been overseas in a while, I really wanted to go.
I had known for some time that my passport had expired. I would not only need to renew it but also get a new machine-readable passport.
Yet I had put off doing so. I’m not going anywhere, I had thought. I have time. But now it had to be done, so I gathered all my documents and filled out the forms. We made our way to the passport office, thinking the process would be a breeze. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. I had to present my copy of my divorce decree.
I could not find it, so I had to get a copy from my ex-husband. Then I had to get an affidavit stating that my name always had a hyphen.
Then I had to get a second affidavit because the first one was worded incorrectly. Three affidavits, two weeks, and nine hundred dollars later, I was told to come back on Monday morning to collect the passport.
Yet Monday was the date of our departure! I felt very anxious. Though we arrived at the passport office at six o’clock in the morning, we still had a long wait. I watched the hours, minutes, and seconds tick away, wondering whether we would get through in time. Many prayers went up to join the ones that had been offered since this ordeal had started. Finally, around ten o’clock, my name was called, and I received my passport. We walked briskly to the car and then drove to the airport, arriving just as the other trip members were checking in. We boarded the plane and were able to enjoy our week in Margarita with the others. Throughout this experience, I was reminded of the times in which we live. Right now, we are preparing for our heavenly journey.
It may seem as though we have all the time in the world to get that spiritual passport, but the truth is, we don’t. The only time we have is now.
Today. I almost missed out on the opportunity to fly with my daughter because I had procrastinated. What if my delay had concerned my salvation? Will I be ready for the close of my probation? Will you be ready for yours?
Greta Michelle Joachim-Fox-Dyett