TEXT:
‘While it is called “Today”’ (Hebrews 3:13)
THOUGHT:
Over 2000 years ago the Roman poet Horace coined the phrase, ”Carpe Diem”, which literally means to “seize the day”. It is used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future. We need to make the most of today’s opportunities because tomorrow may be too late.
One of the cardinal sins in direct sales, is thinking people want to see and buy from you tomorrow but not today. So when they say, “I’ll phone you” or “You can phone me next week”, the salesperson leaves believing they have not been rejected. Occasionally people do follow through and sales are made this way, but it happens so rarely, it is called a “Flying Pig!” How often do you see one of those?
Our text says, ‘While it is called “Today”’. Of the many times the word “Today” is used in the Bible, there are four I want to highlight so that we can give due attention to them.
- Worry – ‘So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today’ (Matthew 6:34 NLT)
Uncontrolled worry can be very detrimental to our health and well-being, especially when we take on tomorrow’s fears as well. To do this is particularly troubling for a Christian, because God says He is working all things together for their good.1 It is true tomorrow’s fears about the future may never materialise, but we can let them adversely affect our lives today.
This pandemic has multiplied anxiety in so many who do not have a personal faith in Jesus, as the fear of death and destruction prevents them from seeing a better tomorrow. Christians need to reveal their confidence in God by displaying a deep-rooted peace, whatever is happening to and around them2.
In the parable of the Sower3, the seed sown amongst the thorns and thistles represented believers who allowed the ‘Cares of this life’ to choke the word of God so that it could not produce a harvest.
Paul instructed the Philippian Christians how they should pray in troubled times. ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
- Faith – ‘But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15TLB).
“Decide today”, Joshua urged the Israelites, at the same time making it very clear that their decision would not alter his position. He and his family would continue to serve the Lord. Christianity is too important to put off for another day.
The parable of the rich fool4 is about a farmer whose lands produced a great harvest. So much so, he decided to pull down his barns, build bigger ones and then live comfortably off the proceeds. He thought he had years of prosperity ahead of him but in reality he only had a very short time left for he died that night!
Many wrongly think it is wisdom to leave making a decision about Jesus Christ until they are much older. They want to enjoy life now! Surveys prove how wrong they are, since seventy-five percent of people professing faith in Christ say they made that decision before the age of twenty-five.
While death-bed conversions are possible, they are not a certainty. How much better it is to make that decision today and enjoy the benefits for the rest of your life on earth!
You are not promised tomorrow. Through Jesus, God has become reconciled to this world and everyone in it5, so you can be reconciled to God. Make your peace with God now, as if it is your last day on earth!
When Jesus was crucified, two other criminals were crucified on either side of Him. Both started to join in with the insults and taunts of the watching crowd. Then one saw Jesus in a different light and said, ‘Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom’. Jesus immediately replied with these words, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:42-43).
Both criminals were at the very end of their lives but only one made the right choice. Will you?
Whatever day you may be experiencing reading this teaching, it will be better for you if you let faith conquer worry.
In Part 2 of this teaching we will study two more aspects of “Today”.
Endnotes:
1 Romans 8:28 2 John 16:33 3 Mark 4:19 4 Luke 12:16-21 5 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
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