(2 Kings 7:3-4 NASB) “Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? {4} “If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we shall die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.””

Four men sat at a gate of a certain city. They had a decision to make, one that needed to be made pretty quick. For some time these men, victims of a terrible disease, waiting for someone to come by and offer them a hand. Days passed, and no one came. To wait any longer was to invite death by starvation. They could no longer afford to be apathetic about their situation, waiting for someone to come along and toss a few coins in their cups. Another day or so of fruitless inactivity would bring death. These men didn’t know exactly when death was coming, but they knew its dark arrival was due any time. “Why sit here until we die? Let’s move to change our lives while we can still move”.

The plight of these men is almost perfectly reflected in American life today. America is not only a place of affluence, it’s a place of entertainment. Watch the political race. If that ain’t apathetic entertainment, what is? If you sit still in front of the television long enough someone will offer you a solution for all your problems.

Out of money and deep in debt? Don’t worry about it – get another credit card.

Overweight? Oprah’s trainer will come to you if you sit there long enough.

Problems with your marriage? Watch Jerry or Maury, and they’ll tell you how to fix it.

Poor health? There are several shows you can watch that will toss a few coins in your cup. Just keep waiting and not doing. You have all the time in the world, just keep sitting and waiting.

Prior to his death a friend, a dear man, looked up at his wife. He quietly told her that the Lord had called him into ministry many years before, but because he was afraid to step out on faith he let that part of his life die. He sat idly at the gate of life knowing his calling, sitting there till death came. “Why do we sit here until we die?”

The preacher gives an invitation to come forward, to give your life to Jesus. He invites you to join the Church and the Christ, to rise from the gate of life and to enter that great City of God. The message you heard touched your heart, and you know that God is surely in this place.

You decide to wait.

You wait till tomorrow, till next week, till a more convenient time.

Someone may pass by and put a few coins in your cup. You may get a better offer from a bigger church. You have a roast in the oven, and the kids are hungry. You’re going to visit a relative today. So you go home and the moment passes. Will you sit there until you die? After than, what then? The Bible is very clear that following your death you will be judged (see Hebrews 9:27). You don’t believe this, but whether you believe or not makes no difference.

Certain things are true whether we believe them or not.

If you try to breath water, you will choke.

If you try skydiving without a parachute, you will be hurt.

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, you will be hurt.

If you are sprayed by a skunk, you will smell.

If you leave this life without knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you will not enter Heaven (John 3:16-18) but Hell. You can believe or disbelieve these things, but your failure to act on faith will not change the outcome. Why do you sit there until you die?

These diseased men did something with their lives. They got up from where they were and stopped waiting for pennies to fall from Heaven. They went into the city and found that God had already blessed them beyond measure. The city was empty, the enemy already gone. The men feasted, enjoyed, and left that place wealthy beyond their wildest imagination. So it is with the life surrendered to God. If you give yourself to Jesus you will find peace in the midst of chaos, satisfaction beyond your wildest dreams. One day you will enter a City whose Builder and Maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Why sit there until you die? Get up and give yourself to Jesus, for it is written:

Romans 10:11 (KJV) “Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”