By Pastor Allen Beardmore
All of us have occasionally told a lie but have you ever believed a lie? What happened when you found out? Maybe you enjoyed the lie and didn’t want to believe the truth. Maybe you did face the truth but still haven’t gotten over it. Right now, I’m going to unmask a big lie. You do not know what will happen tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1). That’s the truth. Have you believed a lie?
Satan tells us quite a few lies about tomorrow and our sinful minds enjoy believing them. We pretend to know that tomorrow there will be no eternity. We pretend to know that today will always give birth to another today. But we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Satan also lies in telling us that we will not die tomorrow. But we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps the greatest lie is saying that tomorrow there will be no judgment for sin. But we do not know what will happen tomorrow.
Have you made a saviour out of tomorrow? I’m overweight and out of shape but…tomorrow I’ll exercise! My relationship is terrible but…tomorrow I’ll get a new partner! Yeah, I’ve got financial worries but…tomorrow my pay-check comes! Our country is in a mess but…tomorrow we’ll vote in a new government! I’m feeling sad today but…tomorrow it’s my birthday!
Or maybe you think you’re better than that. “I know that tomorrow never comes! I look facts in the face. That’s why I live for today!” Carpe diem. Seize the day. Or perhaps your motto is “Be prepared!” Save money for the future. Or perhaps you have attached yourself to someone who is powerful and influential. Tomorrow might be out of my control so I’ll take control of my life another way. Or maybe you live life in the past. Always thinking about your youth. The problem is you’re living in fear of tomorrow. And every time you sin against God and don’t repent…you have believed the lies that eternity, death and judgment will not come tomorrow.
How can we face the truth without living in fear? James chapter 4 tells us that instead of boasting about or fearing tomorrow we ought to live according to the Lord’s will. What does that mean? Living according to God’s will means that right now today we place our faith in Christ alone to forgive us of our sins and commit to obeying his commands. It means that we boast in Jesus dying on the cross. He is the one who conquered Satan! He rose from the dead and conquered death! His life was perfect and God the Father is pleased with Him! Everyone who calls on the name of Christ will be saved! You do not know what will happen tomorrow. But you do know what will happen today if you go to Jesus and confess your sins. He will forgive you and give you grace for tomorrow.