"Hey Smiths!"
Samantha was so happy to be going to church. And, this Sunday was different! She had a new boy friend. Oh, Samantha had many boyfriends in the past, but they were all rough characters. JoJo was a nice, Christian boy. She was thankful! JoJo was beaming as he saw Samantha in the new outfit his mom had gotten her.
"Hello, Samantha," said the entire Smith family, well except for Remi. She was still at her granny's. They attended the little church in the wildwood.
Dan had difficulty finding a parking place at the church. Pastor Paul Peacock was preaching today. He was a traveling preacher, and he came to Smallville once every year or two. The church just called him Pastor Paul. Dan finally found a place, and ironically Tommy and his family parked 3 places down from them. As the Smith and Wildfire families got out of their cars, pleasantries were spread. JoJo and Samantha didn't stick around too long---it was still a little weird to be around Tommy.
Pastor Paul was popular! The church was almost full. As JoJo and Samantha entered the church, they heard familiar calls form their sophomore friends: Jane, Debra, and Alan.
Alan was practically yelling (as usual), "Come join us!"
JoJo led the way. The five sat together. Samantha was thrilled to be where she was (church), with the people she was with (especially JoJo), and at that moment. (It was one of the happiest mornings of her life.) The kids talked to each other, over each other, and through each other.
It was 11:00, and the service began. JoJo usually loved the music more than any other part of the service. However, today was going to be different. After the announcements, offering, and much singing, Pastor Paul moved to the middle of the stage. He never used a microphone--because he didn't need one. His voice bellowed a melodic sound that all heard. For those who were familiar with this sound, it was pleasing and heaven-sent.
"Today, we are going to talk about, 'TODAY!' This is the only day we have been given. As it has been said many times, 'Today is a gift--that is why it is called the present.'" Many chuckled, while other nodded knowingly.
"As Christians, we need to live for the future, in the presence, because of what God has done for us in the past. Wooooo! That was a mouthful. Let me say it in another way: We need to claim our lives in Christ for future things because of God's working in our lives now. This is because God uses His Living Word to tell us about these promises, even though they were written in the past. Now, you may say: 'Preacher, we don't need to worry about tomorrow.' You are right!
Let's look at this text from God's Word found in Matthew, chapter 6, verses 31-34.
Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles."
We certainly don't want to worry about tomorrow! Is it ok to make plans for tomorrow? Certainly! We need to plan for our church, family, career, hobbies, and other things. However, if we are not careful, we will find ourself living in the future. We plan and plan and plan. Well, what if the end of the day comes and we have not been grateful. We haven't laughed.
We haven't smelled the roses or watched the clouds. We haven't helped our neighbor. We didn't stop to listen. Why? We were planning, planning, planning...
It can happen. But....But....this is a worse scenario: We are so busy planning for tomorrow that we don't love our God, and we don't enjoy the day He has created.
Psalm 118:24; This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Maybe you are thinking, Pastor, I am starting to get this, but what is wrong with studying the past?
Friend, there is nothing wrong with studying the past. God wants us to learn about his creation, about history, about communication, and so much more. As a matter of fact, when we study the Bible, we are studying about History. But, I must warn you that the Bible is not a History book. It is a living Word that God uses to talk to us and change our soul to be more like the Christ.
Here is a possible problem with the past...being a prisoner to it! Maybe you have tragedies in your past, God can heal you. Maybe you have regrets in you past, God can give you a clear conscience. Maybe you have SINNED in the past!
I John 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let the past go! It's your choice! LET IT GO, SO YOU CAN LIVE TODAY! Others need you today! God needs you today! Your church needs you today!
This brings us back to that confusing statement at the beginning of my sermon:
AS CHRISTIANS, WE NEED TO LIVE FOR THE FUTURE, IN THE PRESENCE, BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN THE PAST.
Is that confusing to anybody? OK, that was everybody! Ha! I will try to clarify.
Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
If you are not a Christian, these verses speak to you. Christ has paid the price for your sins. Just ask him into your heart. Believe on Him and be saved!
Roman 10:8&9; But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
II Corinthians 6:2 For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.
For the Christian: Yes, today is our only day. However, due to God's mercy, we are alive in Christ--looking toward the future in expectation. We must not get bogged down in planning. Also, we must not be a prisoner to the past. Let us give thanks and praise to God for today! I charge you that we are to be God's people today!
Job 14:5; A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of months and have set limits he cannot exceed.
In closing, I visited my friend, Tom in the hospital. He is terminally ill. I asked him, 'If you get out of this hospital and live without this illness for just one day, what would you do?'
Tom surprised me! He said, 'Pastor Paul, I need to ask you if you live each day like it is your last?'
I thought for a brief moment and said 'no.' Tom said, Pastor, I have learned to live each day like it is my last. Do you want to know what I do each day?'
'Tell me.'
'By God's grace, I love Him and others. If you do that well, it's a good, full day.'
All I could say to Tom was, 'Thank you.'
As we play our invitation hymn, want you come to the altar. If you need someone to pray with you, our Prayer Team will be here to receive you.
No comments:
Post a Comment