A man went to a nursery to select some trees for his yard. While there, he noticed a sign that said, “The best time to plant a tree was fifteen years ago. The second best time is today.”

There is wisdom in that sign, but we can’t look back and be disappointed by what could have been. Sure, we have missed opportunities in the past, but it is far better to look ahead and seize the opportunity at hand. Jesus tells this parable in 

Luke 14:15–24 (NLT)

Parable of the Great Feast

¹⁵ Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 

¹⁶ Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. ¹⁷ When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ ¹⁹ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ ²⁰ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 

²¹ “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ ²² After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ ²³ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. ²⁴ For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”

Don’t allow excuses that will keep you from doing what God wants you to do. Is God asking you to plant something? Make the most of the opportunity that is before you. During this time of isolation, life is very different for most of us. Maybe its a good time to plant something!

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

ISAIAH 43:19