After years of marriage, and even more of being best friends, somewhere
along the line they had come to the fork in the road and taken it. He still
rode, but mostly alone or with an occasional old friend, she devoted herself to
craft shows, and filling the extra bedroom with her projects. But of late when
talk came of where to go this summer on vacation, she listened as the talk
became of a motorcycle tour. Two weeks on the road...alone together. And when
pressed for an answer, she always replied “ask me tomorrow.” And for a month of
tomorrows, he did, and her answer never wavered. Until the Friday before he was
going to leave, taking only a few days, then they would take off in the car
together. Going to bed with one last invite, he was greeted with one last “ask
me tomorrow,” and was shocked when he woke up early to go, she was ready, and
packed, and was waiting for him. Tomorrow has come, and she decided yes, which
delighted both of them, and his few day ride, turned into a two week honeymoon.
Taking it day by day, every night he still asked, “do you want to ride more
tomorrow?” and she would reply “ask me tomorrow.” And every morning she was
ready, and the days turned into weekends, weekends began the week, and soon two
weeks passed by, followed by a phone call to the one house sitting, “we may not
be back for awhile, we’ll let you know tomorrow.” And many miles, many
memories, and many good times were shared. Memories of long 500 mile days were
now replaced with 250-300 mile rides, stopping when they wanted, and going where
they wanted. No plans, counting heavily on tomorrow. “It’s going to rain
tomorrow, want to head home?” And you guessed it, her answer was consistently
“ask me tomorrow.” And the rain never stopped her before, and today was no
different, the rain suit was a tighter fit after the many years, but ride they
did into the storm. “Can you handle the sunshine ahead?” they joked, and of
course they both laughed, “ask me tomorrow.” A life time of questions,
decisions never dealt with until the next day, and as long as tomorrow kept
coming, they still rode together. That fork in the road fading in the rear view
mirror.
There were many overnighters like this, spur of the moment, unplanned
“let’s go riding days,” but they were always tomorrow, not today. Even when
nothing was going on, “ask me tomorrow” was always her answer. “Too many things
can change day to day,” she insisted, “let’s just see what happens,” and life
always seemed to be worth the wait. And worth waiting for. Never planning for
tomorrow, but always ready for what came their way, until one day, the day
before they had plans to do something, her answers changed. Her “ask me
tomorrow,” answer was not forthcoming, she had lost interest. And became
withdrawn, and the separation of friends, and marriage was evident. Still in
love, where once she had waited for tomorrow, now she delayed, putting things
off, even her crafts. She had gotten slow, then slower, and now hardly got out
of bed. Always tired, she became miserable, demanding, and everything became
“right now” to her, with no thought of tomorrow. Tomorrow seemed a forgone
conclusion, and one day she passed away in her sleep. Till death do us part
having a new meaning in their relationship, and when asked how he was doing, all
her husband could say was “ask me tomorrow.” Heartbroken and lonely, it had
always come before, but ended one night, long before either was ready, but he
knew her place in heaven was reserved because the one thing she hadn’t waited
till tomorrow to do was accept Jesus Christ. Now she had gone way beyond
tomorrow, and had entered into eternal todays....
Saying nothing is saying no to Jesus. Waiting is, or better yet delaying
is a tool of the devil, for no man is promised tomorrow. And today has enough
problems of its own. “Do you want to go to church with me?” we ask, and often
the answer is no, but the answer we find hard to deal with is “ask me
tomorrow.” Delaying, when you know their answer is really no. But what when
God’s answer to our prayers is no? We love the yes answer, it is always nice to
know God agrees with us, but rather we should rejoice when we agree with him.
That’s the way it should be. And then there is no, we don’t like being told no,
we like to be in control of everything, so much for putting God first and saying
we trust him. But I have learned that every “no” answer is a blessing, because
a better yes is coming. But what do you do with wait? How long? For what?
What if the answer is no after along wait, what if it is yes, and I still am not
happy? What if tomorrow never comes, and the questions are never answered?
Prayers still not answered? Maybe today and the decisions we make today are
more important than we think. And the answer of who is Jesus, and realizing who
he is cannot wait. People die in their sleep, accidents happen on the way home,
and people go to hell even though they don’t have to. “Ask me tomorrow,” when
the tomorrow that had always been there never comes. And hell captures them, an
eternity of pain and suffering-unbelievable, but real, and suddenly today’s
question, today’s invitation is more important than it will be tomorrow, or was
yesterday.
We never know where the end is when we are in any situation. We are locked
in the middle of it, and only looking back can see where the middle was. Don’t
look back and miss heaven. That promise of tomorrow is fleeting, and the
decisions you make today will influence them. Man plans, God laughs, but really
he mourns for each soul who denies him, such is the depth of his love for us.
Even while sinners, he sent Jesus....
So as saved people, we look forward to a tomorrow with Jesus. Heaven, yet
we still make plans here on earth. And God changes them, often without our
input, having us avoid storms, danger, and showing us which fork in the road to
take. A marriage with him lasts forever, and death do us part is only a new
beginning. No tomorrows in heaven, just an eternal right now with Jesus. The
decision has been made, and God honors it, yes or no. But it is still up to
you. So what are you waiting for? Best friends, wives and husbands, and riding
buddies are all relationships that will someday end. If you really love God,
plan now for tomorrow with him. But make sure to bring along your wife, invite
your friends, and let everyone know by your lifestyle Jesus saves. Some day you
will not be able to “ask me tomorrow,” for tomorrow will never come. You will be
there. Maybe today is the day to not put off any longer your dreams, your
rides, or your relationship with God. Pay me now or pay me later only works if
you have a later, and maybe it is later than you think. So close yet so far, I
hope that you are here to “ask me tomorrow,” but if you aren’t I hope you made
the right choice today. You never know when it will be your last ride, so make
it a good one. Looking forward to the eternal today only found in Christ.
Today was tomorrow yesterday. And yesterday was once tomorrow, but now today.
“Ask me tomorrow...” but make the decision today. Some riding seasons like
life are just too short.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com