The words “urgency” and “emergency” would seem to have much in common.  They’re both nouns.  They sound so very similar, and no wonder—their last two syllables are identical. But that’s just the beginning.

Situations repeatedly arise, in which both words are applicable in the same place, at the same time and for the same reason.  It would be a challenge to name many other words more closely related in terms of proximity, causation, duration, and proportion.  Both urgency and emergency can trigger powerful emotions and great stress.  So, it is not at all unusual to find these two words strongly associated with one another in people’s minds.

Yet, urgency and emergency are not synonyms.  It is entirely possible to encounter great urgency despite the glaring absence of any true emergency.  This happens so often in fact, that it is blindingly obvious when false or exaggerated urgency is being conflated with an actual emergency.  The vast majority of deadlines in business are of this type.

One can easily see how this occurs.  The CEO wants something done by a certain (typically arbitrary) date.  Instantly, this becomes the vice presidents’ top priority, and an earlier deadline is set to provide a safety cushion.  This date is passed down to functional officers, who make it their first priority, and set an even earlier deadline for the department heads below them, in case of unforeseen contingencies.  

The department heads receive their marching orders, bump the task to the head of their to do lists, and set earlier internal deadlines, in the event that their subordinates do not deliver.  Middle management (mostly junior execs in competition with each other to please the boss) does the same.  By now, the deadline has been pushed back to the point that the production line workers are unable to comply, regardless of any Herculean efforts they may be willing or induced to make.  That’s because the deadline they are given is expired by the time they receive it, and their superiors lacked the foresight to provide a working time machine. 

The pressure is intense and the escalating threats of severe consequences so dire, that the situation seems to be a genuine emergency.  And it could be, if that determination were based on the number of status reports demanded and staff meetings convened, the number of canceled vacation days or the sheer levels of noise and pain.  Though many innocent and hardworking employees may be injured in this process, these things do not constitute, much less define a bonafide emergency.

How about the other way ‘round?  Can there be emergencies in response to which, there is no sense of urgency?  Indeed there can.  History and daily personal experience are replete with examples of this very thing.  Signs are ignored.  Warnings go unheeded.  As alarms get louder, someone silences them.  Another drops the ball.  Somebody is afraid to move bad news up the chain for fear of being blamed (or because they are to blame).  There is no plan for what to do in case of disaster and no resources dedicated to preparation and mitigation.

Once denial gives way to the fear that doom is inevitable, hopelessness and despair creep in.  Fatalism and apathy follow, even as the end comes into sight.  Low odds of escape tempt many to ambivalence about survival.  ‘Is it worth the struggle?’ they wonder.  ‘Why not just give in?’ 

Urgency without emergency is common and may extend to unimportant or even trivial matters.  Emergency without urgency is less usual and virtually always ends badly, tragically, even fatally.  In a true emergency, the stakes are high by definition.  Given that human beings are prone to panic, how can we understand their unconcern when confronted with the highest conceivable stakes a person can face—the question of where and under what conditions he or she will spend eternity, once this life has come to its certain end?

Out on the sea, there is a sudden hard jolt, followed by sounds of strain and grinding metal.  The ocean liner eases free again under a waning moon.  The moment passes and is quickly forgotten.  Within the hour, the deck seems to be slanting a few degrees at a time.  Icy black water rises from below and begins gently lapping in the stairwell.  Soon a shudder seems to convulse the whole ship, which groans audibly.  Should I investigate?

Among the passengers, a handful are unlimbering lifeboats.  Overreacting, clearly.  The vast majority are still having a good time.  How could so many be wrong?  This business about icebergs in the shipping lanes…What nonsense!  Surely the captain and crew know what they’re doing.  Someone is spreading misinformation, conspiracy theories.  This ship is unsinkable!  It says so right here on the travel agency brochure.  Pour me another drink, while you’re up.  My glass just slid off the tray table.  Have the band play something gay.

Now for a splash in the face with some of that cold water.  The facts are these:

• Jesus Christ is returning soon, first for His own and shortly after, to establish His kingdom.
• This world and every individual in it, is headed for judgment by a holy God.
• All human beings have violated God’s law, for which the penalty is death and the lake of fire.
• Forgiveness is available for those who want God’s perfect mercy, not God’s perfect justice.
• Jesus Christ suffered, died and was buried for OUR sins (but was raised again on the third day).
• His death on the cross paid in full the penalty for the sins of the whole world.
• God grants eternal life in heaven as a free gift to any who put their faith in Christ and accept it.
• All who repent, believe in Jesus’ rising, trust Him as Savior & confess Him as Lord will be saved.
• Those who reject the pardon Jesus died to give them are already condemned for their unbelief.
• They’ll have a chance to stand before God and prove they’ve kept His law perfectly (impossible).
• God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  
• God Loves YOU, whoever you may be, and is not willing that you should perish with the ungodly. 
• If you’ve never come to God His way, on His terms, and accepted His gift, you’re in unimaginable spiritual and physical danger.
• This is an emergency!  There is none greater.  Desperate urgency is completely justified.

This world is sinking fast.  Don’t go down with the ship.  Ask the Captain for the life-preserver Jesus purchased with His own blood and reserved for you, personally.  Put it on immediately, and take your seat in the lifeboat quickly, no matter what others may do or say.  Then, breathe a sigh of relief and thank Him, for His indescribable gift! 

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31)