Tempting Tomorrow

I'll take care of that tomorrow. I'll call them tomorrow. I'll try that tomorrow. How many of us of have ever said that? And how many of us have had our tomorrow's turn into weeks, months, maybe years? We all live as if we are promised tomorrow, but the truth is, we aren't.


"Never boast about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen between now and then. ." (Proverbs 27:1 GNT)


We are to remain hopeful for tomorrow, expectant for tomorrow, and it's okay to plan for tomorrow. However, that does not guarantee that we will all have tomorrow. We must hope, plan, and dream like we have a thousand tomorrows, but we need to live like there's only today. That is not to say we are to do reckless things and throw caution to the wind just in case there is no tomorrow. We are still called to be responsible and diligent in our actions, but we are not called to expect God to give us each day just because we want it or we have plans for it. For He has plans of His own, and they far out measure ours or our understanding. But what if we took each day as the blessing that it is? Grabbed onto the steering wheel with both hands, put that pedal to the floor, and embraced every single moment of the day right in front of us? Not worrying about tomorrow, not worrying about 10 years from now…enjoying the blessings that the day we are already in brings.


"So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries." (Matthew 6:34 ERV)


We've all seen it happen, or been a victim of it ourselves. We go along in our daily lives, too busy to get to this or that. But we'll get to it tomorrow. We find out that friend we just talked to or that relative that we just saw has had a horrific tragedy and is no longer with us. Now what? Where's that tomorrow? You were going to call, you were going to write that letter, you were going to stop by and see them – but life just got too busy.


"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31 NIV)


Or maybe you have experienced that situation yourself. Strolling about and living the abundance of life one moment, the next finding yourself on a gurney in the emergency room or in a hospital lobby waiting for news of your husband or children. In an instant life can change, and many times not due to your own actions or negligence. The world is full of irresponsible people, the world is full of just plain accidents. We can't live on edge like we always might be a victim, but we also can't tempt tomorrow by assuming it will be there. On the little things, sure. There's a few dishes in the sink, a load of laundry in the dryer that needs to be folded – but it's ten o'clock at night and you are exhausted and have work in the morning. That can wait until tomorrow. But telling someone you love them, chasing that dream that you've only been thinking about for years but never taking a single step towards achieving. Those things can't wait. Live those things like there is no tomorrow, and watch how it changes your life. So what if we tempted tomorrow in a different way? Tempted it to bring us it's best. Tempted it to give us all it's got. Tempted it to challenge us and grow us. That's the right way to tempt tomorrow, in the way that will grow you in a relationship with the Lord and with others. In the way that will help you embrace life in the abundance it has been given to you. Don't tempt tomorrow in expectant attitude and habit and ritual. Tempt tomorrow and live today in faith and hope and joy!


"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Galatians 5:22 MSG)