‘Til You Can’t
Toney L. Smith

I heard a song a few days ago and it has stuck in my thoughts. The title of the song is ‘Til You Can’t and is sung by Cody Johnson. The song holds a message that we would do well to learn. The song is not a spiritual song, although it carries a message that we find in God’s word. The lyrics reminds us that we should never put off things that we can do ‘til we can’t.  If we put things off, we may never have the chance again. A couple of thoughts from the song say; “If you’re gonna love somebody, Hold ’em as long and as strong and as close as you can – ‘Til you can’t…” and “So take that phone call from your momma and just talk away, ‘Cause you’ll never know how bad you wanna ’til you can’t someday.” There will come a time when we cannot reach back and do the things that we know should have been done. The gist of the song is do not put off till tomorrow what should be done today. Our days go by so quickly and if we are not careful, our opportunities are gone (Job 7:6-7).

How many of us have thought of a friend or a loved one who needs to be taught the gospel of Christ? We realize the need for a Bible study, yet we keep putting it off waiting for a “convenient season” (Acts 24:25). Many things can get in the way. The Lord might return (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3), our friend or loved one could die or lose interest (Hebrews 3:13). You keep thinking that one day you are going to have that study – ‘til you can’t.

There are multitudes of people who have sat through sermon after sermon listening to God’s plan for salvation. They knew the message was true and vowed that one day they would obey the gospel (Acts 26:27-28). Time and time again they heard the words of encouragement and could have stepped forward and responded to the gospel call, but stood still and would not move promising themselves that one day they would obey. They did not consider the fact that they were trying to hold on to a tomorrow they might not have! You can obey the gospel – ‘til you can’t.

Many members of the Lord’s church have stepped away from the “narrow way” and are traveling on the broad road “that leadeth to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14). They have stopped being faithful to the Lord and are negligent with their life-style. They planned many times to repent. They realized that the Lord said “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). However, they waited too long and ran out of time. Be careful. Do not wait – ‘Til you can’t.  

Tomorrow is a word that has caused many people to fail. They failed because they did not take advantage of the time they had. We are not promised tomorrow. James penned words that remind us of the brevity of life; “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” (James 4:14). Many are waiting for the “convenient season.” However, we must realize that today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Don’t wait on tomorrow ’cause tomorrow may not show. Say your sorries, your I-love-yous, ’cause man you never know. Don’t wait – ‘til you can’t.

TOMORROW.

He was going to be all that a mortal could be – TOMORROW.

No one would be better than he – TOMORROW.

Each morning he stacked up the letters he would write – TOMORROW.

It is too bad indeed that he was too busy to see the ill, but he promised to do it all – TOMORROW.

The greatest of workers this man would have been – TOMORROW.

The world would have known him had he ever seen TOMORROW.

But the fact is he died and faded from view, and all that was left when living was through, was a mountain of things he intended to do TOMORROW.