There is a song from the 1970’s that had in its words “today is yesterday’s tomorrow.” The opposite is true as well. Today is tomorrow’s yesterday. These remind us that we should be more mindful to make today count. The Passing. The Partial. The Perfect. These statements have something for us. There are things that abide, things we can count on and not let go.
I Corinthians 13: 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Think about this moment in time. It may be the end of the calendar year 2012, but today is today. We should esteem every day precious. Coming to the end of a year can be depressing or encouraging. It’s how we look at it. We all another year older, but our next birthday is yet to come. We’re not the age we will be next year.
Psalms 90: 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
David had a clear view of life. Regardless of what he had, he understood how precious life is. All along, day to day, life slips away. The clock ticks and winds down on this earthly life. Paul said love never fails. Prophecies and speaking will cease. The time will come when your voice won’t be heard. I’d give a lot to hear the voices of my mom and dad and those who have gone on from the church, but they are gone. When the day comes that our own voices cease, our desire should be that our last words will be a testimony for the Lord. I want to leave something behind that will help others and let them know we can meet again.
Knowledge vanishes away. None of us is exempt. Life happens at 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We’re moving on. Every day is a gift of life. However it may have been up to this point is the way it is. God is still on his throne. The Lord has not changed. We have. Our lives have. We’ve lost and gained in various respects. Our opportunities exist in today, and it is passing. Why am I still here when others have gone on? We don’t understand these things. It’s just life. Job said we are like a flower that is here and then cut down. David said we’re like a tale that is told. We are passing. We can’t stay the same. Because of sin death came into the world. We are in the process of dying as we live. No matter how tight we try to hold on, it will be tomorrow before we know it. We can’t hold back the hands of time. We can get rid of every clock in we have, but it won’t matter. The earth keeps turning on its axis, and we keep passing. When we least expect it, it will be gone.
What’s the use to live? There is every reason! You have life now. It may be passing, but it is here now. Enjoy it. Use what God gives you. Did God fail in 2012? No. He never has failed us. God is love and love never fails. We fail to realize how much God does for us every day. Without his help we would not be here. By his grace we are who we are, and we’re here. We are passing but God keeps up with us. Nothing is what it used to be EXCEPT God. He is still the same. He offers us today, and when tomorrow comes he’ll be there just like he was today and yesterday.
Do you really want to be here forever? Do I want these health problems forever? No. We say we’d like to be young again, but would we really? We weren’t satisfied then either. Some had it rough in their younger days and surely wouldn’t want to go back to that. Be thankful for what you have now. All is passing—voices, knowledge, comprehension. If our know-how passes it will be all right as long as we’re trusting in the One who knows how. If it all passes away, we have hope in Jesus. Be glad for the changes. Be thankful to have lived as long as you have. Don’t worry about dying next year. You may and you may not, but you can’t do a thing about it. Today is up to us. We need to trust the Lord and serve him using the opportunities we have in it.
Life is passing. It’s because of the partiality of things. We see in part. We know in part. Because of our Adam nature, the quality of life is not what it was meant to be. It’s not what it used to be. Our biggest problem is not Washington or our finances. Our biggest problem is ourselves. We get in our way. Don’t delude yourself that you have it all together. That’s what the rich man thought. He told his soul to take its ease because he had it made. God called him a fool. It is foolishness to say we are in control and life will spin as we say. The opposite is true. We spin as life moves us along. We can only do part way because we can’t have it all here. When things fail us here, it reminds us to look up. Paul didn’t say he hoped a better day was coming. He said it is coming.
Maybe you were in better health then that you are now, but you could be worse off than you are now. Is it possible to have perfect health in a place of perfection, a place where people don’t suffer, and a perfect way of life with no dreads? Remember thinking you’d never graduate from high school? Don’t wish your life away. Life has taught us a lot. We have hope of everything becoming completely perfect including you and me. When HE appears we shall be like him. Paul said when that which is perfect is come. It will come. The world has changed. Our lives have changed. Three things remain the same. They abide now. They were there before and when we were born. They remain. In any given moment there has never been a change in God, his Word, or the gifts he’s given us. And now abideth faith, hope, charity. Faith: the ability to believe remains. Hope: we have a wonderful hope. It remains. Love: we are blessed with the love of God. It remains. If we trust God he’ll bless us to love life and love ourselves. Let’s thank God for his gifts.
Until the perfect comes, these will get us through. Our prayer should be “Lord, help me in my faith.” It abides. It’s a hopeless world, but we have hope. It abides. If you’ve lost your first love, you can come back because love abides. Life is passing. It is partial. The perfect will come. Until then, faith, hope, and love abide to guide us through.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 