Christians, have you ever heard any of those familiar quotes? Live life today as if tomorrow you die? Live life today as if tomorrow will never come? Live life today as if it is your last? When I was in college I was apt to adhere to this thought process. I used lines like these as an excuse to party, run up a bar tab, stay up late, act a little stupid. When I got my life on track with God, He took my cute little quote and turned it on its head. I need to “Live life today, as if tomorrow I stand before the King.”
In college I used the phrase as an opportunity to do anything and everything I wanted because I would not want to have any regrets if today were my last. If I wanted to go out, I should go out. If I wanted a drink, I should drink. If I wanted to eat a fat greasy cheeseburger or two gyros at 3 am, go for it. I was definitely not thinking of my future self, I was trying to create scenarios where I had no regrets.
When God changed my phrase, it changed my focus, but not the message. When we live life today as if tomorrow we will stand before Jesus, we should also be creating a life where we have no regrets. What would our to do lists look like, if we knew today was our last? Would we call all the people we always meant to witness to? Would we say all the thank you’s to the people we have been grateful to have in our lives? Would we call up our lost family members and reach out with the Gospel or a prayer one more time? Would we look at other’s needs and see how we could fulfill them with the means that we have? Would we hold our loved ones, kiss our spouses, tell people “I love you” one last time?
I know for myself, I have a long spiritual “to do” list that I have been working on, but have never emptied. It seems like instead of crossing things off, I often just keep adding things to it. If I stood before Jesus, how weak would my excuses be? “I wanted to help/serve/give, but…” “I know you told me to witness/pray/love, but…” I know I needed to FORGIVE (insert name here), but…” It says right in the Bible not to boast about tomorrow, because we do not know what it brings. It says if we don’t forgive, we won’t be forgiven. It says that one day we will all stand before God and give an account of what we did – good or bad. It’s not a maybe, it’s not an IF, this is a guarantee.
If you are feeling condemnation, that’s not good, that is not from God, as Christians, we have no condemnation. If you are feeling conviction, that’s awesome, that is from God, it shows He cares for you. If you feel nothing, what kind of robot are you? I’m kidding, maybe you are a super-Christian that does everything God tells them to do, all the time, in that case, email me and you can take over this blog. For me, and hopefully for most of you, we should see this as a reminder, as an opportunity, as the little push we need to step up and step out in action. Do not think you have to accomplish EVERYTHING on your spiritual to do list today, but seek the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you to what would be beneficial today and each day after. Align your heart with the goals and purpose to live as ready as you can to stand before Jesus.
I pray that you feel empowered, I pray you feel strengthened, I pray you feel encouraged and invigorated, to walk out this life, in preparation for your next one. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads you and guides you, that you find yourself gently reminded in your spirit to “Live life today as if tomorrow you stand before the King,” in Jesus name, Amen.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1 (NASB)
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. II Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) (Also see Romans 14:12 and I Peter 4:5)
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) (emphasis added).
So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Being mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. Galatians 6:10 AMP
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2017
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