How many of us have said, “Someday, I will do this or be that?” How many things have you set aside for the someday? What does that someday look like for you?
Someday, when I have finished college, I will have an outstanding career and make a lot of money. Someday, when I get married, I will have a big house and a large family. Someday, when I lose enough weight, I’ll do this, that, or the other.
Then, at the end of our life, we realize that we put off all the somedays for a better day and a better day never came. We only see that somedays we were only treading water. We realize that the somedays robbed us of the now-days. I know that I have fallen for this too many times in my life. I have lamented, in grief, over those loved ones who have already passed from this earth and those deaths have catapulted me into the somedays, where with sadness I realized that what was is the now-days and my heart was unprepared for it.
Jesus addressed this with His disciples, speaking on our anxiety on the future:
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34
I often have wondered how the disciples felt when Jesus died on the cross. Did the somedays rip through the veil of the temple and burst them into the now-day? I can imagine the fear that arose in them, the loneliness they felt, and the confusion. Jesus taught them and shared with them what the impending someday will be like. Yet, they did not hear Him rightly, I suppose.
James also addressed the matter in his letter to the twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17
Does this mean that we should not make plans? It absolutely does not mean we should not make plans…not at all. It means that we cannot nor should not bank on tomorrow. It is only God who knows and has counted our steps. Only He knows when our now-day will be someday.
“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Our plans should revolve around the Father’s Will for us. We should live today going about His business. Do not be foolish by putting off what should be done in the now. Be careful to not lie on your death bed questioning what happened…how you got there so quickly…with your plans thwarted…had all of these unfinished tasks. The tasks that are important are the tasks for today.
The most important task is to share the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus today. While we are not promised tomorrow, neither is the one whom we failed to share Christ.
If you must be anxious about anything, be anxious for the souls that are facing eternal damnation. Quite honestly, it is why we are here. Be here…in the now-days…bringing others into eternity with us. That will bring God glory.
Soli Deo Gloria