We’ve been conditioned — conditioned to focus and hinge our hopes on the future, to base our joy off of the promises of tomorrow. It’s a wonderful thing to plan ahead, to make sure you set aside money for the unknown, to plan for your retirement, to go on vacations and have excitement in the things you enjoy. However when all our hope is in the things of tomorrow we miss what we have today. We push it aside for the hope in the dreams of our minds. Not always, if ever, stopping to think: “What if tomorrow doesn’t come?”. Even if there is a tomorrow, we don’t even know what it might bring.

The Reality of Tomorrow

You could argue that there is a strong likelihood that you will be around for tomorrow. You say “I’m healthy”, “I’m young” and “I have great plans”. For a majority of us, we’ve seen many tomorrows come to pass. But for everyone there will come that time when you won’t get another tomorrow and nobody knows when that time will come. When this reality sinks in, it can be quite scary. Thinking of one’s mortality is a subject that can make even the strongest person tremble with anxiety and fear. We get into routines and planning, we get caught up in the things of life and we push aside the importance of today. In reality tomorrow is only a hope, not a promise for anyone.

If Tomorrow Is Not Promised, Then What?

For some of you, thinking about the fact that tomorrow is not promised might send you into a panic. If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you should panic. When tomorrow doesn’t come, you will have no other hope. You will die and pass into eternal punishment for your sins. I wish I had words of comfort for you in that situation, but there are literally none. Right now all your hope is in the things of this world, which are passing away (1 John 2:15-17). In James 4:14, we’re told that our lives are but a vapor, which appears for a little while, then vanishes. If you think of your life and eternity together as a never ending rope, beginning the moment you are born, the portion of this life is so small, just a speck.

For all of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we should never let fear or anxiety rule over us. As believers, we are in Christ and He in us (Colossians 3:3). Jesus is alive therefore we have hope, everlasting hope! (Romans 14:9) For the Christian, when tomorrow in this life does not come, a new day begins in eternity with the Lord. We have the absolute assurance that we can live in this moment, planning for tomorrow, but not worry or put all our hope in tomorrow and the things of tomorrow. Because our focus is on the Lord, His work for us today and all He has blessed us with to this very moment.

Don’t Overlook Your Blessings

In the midst of trouble it’s so easy to think about the future, looking ahead to when the trouble has passed. Unfortunately we don’t usually know how long trouble will last. Look at the Covid-19 pandemic, something that affected this world in a matter of weeks and still as of my writing this, in May 2020, we do not know how long it or its effects will last. To hunker down in fear until it passes means you will miss out on the enjoyment of the moment at hand. If you love the Lord, focus on the blessings He has given you: your family, friends, maybe you still have work, food, shelter, whatever He is blessing you with. Be ever thankful because He promises to provide what you need, (see Matthew 6:25-34). Don’t take any blessing for granted and place all your hope in Him. Regardless of if tomorrow comes, and what tomorrow brings, your strength will be found in Christ Jesus. For in our weakness, His power is perfected (2 Corinthians 12:9). Joy can be had in this moment regardless of the trial, because Christ is strengthening you to endure or preparing you for life everlasting. As Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 1:21, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Meaning while in this world we live for Christ as salt and light, but in death we lose nothing, but gain everything in Him. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow because God has blessed us today and if tomorrow does not come, God has taken care of that for us too.

If you are not a believer, then none of this applies to you, but you still face times of trouble, times of hopelessness and fear. Don’t waste them as it could be God reaching out to you. Jesus is never far away and all it takes is that one moment where you are humbled and decide it’s time, time to accept Him into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior. I pray that you do so at this very moment, I want you to share in the hope that all of us believers have in Christ Jesus. Your life will change from endlessly searching for hope and joy in this world and the promises of tomorrow, to finding the only true everlasting hope and joy, found in God’s truth, through Jesus Christ. (John 11:25, John 14:6)

Consider Tomorrow But Live Today

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34, that worrying will not add another moment to anyone’s life and that today has enough trouble of its own, therefore do not worry about tomorrow. James 4:13-17 tells us how sinful and pointless it is to focus purely on the plans of tomorrow. The Christian’s thought process ought to be that if the Lord wills it, then you will do such and such tomorrow. We can and should plan ahead, but never once think that all of that is set in stone. God has ultimate control over all things and it’s His will that will be done, not ours. Being the loving Creator that He is, He gives us freedom to think, to make choices, to plan and to do, but all of that happens within His permissible will. So don’t panic, don’t fear, and don’t live for tomorrow, but focus in on this moment. Pray to God to reveal to you His work for you today, focus in on His blessings and promise of life everlasting. This life is so much sweeter, so much more joyful when your focus is on the Lord. You don’t have to stress over tomorrow or put your hope in tomorrow because He is with you at this very moment today.

Heavenly Father, Your works are amazing! You take the sinner, lost and hopeless and You transform them through Your Son Jesus Christ. Never a day will pass which You will not take care of those who love You. May I be reminded daily of Your mercy, which is undeserved on my part, and also reminded that You are with me always from the day of my salvation to the day I enter into eternity with You. Thank you Lord for Your gift of life and joy everlasting! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

I encourage anyone who does not personally know Jesus Christ to accept Him today, without delay. Learn more about Jesus and what He did for all of us.