LIFE COMES A DAY AT A TIME

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15 KJV)

Those of us who lived during the sixties, seventies, eighties and even during earlier decades looked at the the 21^st century as something beyond man’s sphere of thinking. But here we are in the ninth year of the 21^st century. It seems as if it were only yesterday that we were all wondering if some phenomena would occur at the end of the 20^th century, thus preventing life to continue. My, how times flies! Now I do not know how long you, the reader, have lived but do you realize that you have lived all these years a day at a time, not excluding seconds, minutes, and hours.

Each day has been given to us according to the “will of God.” What is meant by the “will” of God? It means that tomorrow is resolved or determined by God. Tomorrow is given according to God’s purpose. In other words, God gives us each day and we should be continually thankful for each one. Yet, many deal with each day as if they are the reason for their living, never thinking about God.

If we go through life knowing that God is in control, we should also travel through life trusting in God. The Bible says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalms 37:5 ESV). By daily committing and trusting in the Lord our God we have the catalyst that gives us the courage to face the adversities of life. God is the one who acts and makes things happen in our lives if we will only trust in Him.

During 2008 we witnessed many positive things that happened, while at the same time there were some hardships that had to be dealt with. Some were able to endure the difficulties and move forward while others may be still feeling the pains and trying to deal with them. The reason some were able to move beyond these intricacies is because of their trust in God. They are aware that the strength to face the complexities of life comes through such trust (Philippians 4: 13). We have to remember that if we trust God to help us to do our part with the ability He has given us, God is not going to let us down when it comes to his part, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5 (KJV).

Since we are only given one day at a time, we must learn to use each given day wisely. We must live each day letting our lights shine to glorify God. We glorify God when we are able to get along with others. We must remember that how we get along with others depends first on us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV). Many times when love and friendship are not happening, it is because love and friendship are not extended (Proverbs 18: 24). We only have today, so WE must strive to be peacemakers and not peace breakers (Matthew 5: 9).

We only have today to be about our Father’s business of bringing souls to Christ. So, let us use today to strive to bring someone to Christ before it is eternally too late, “And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV). RB