Tomorrow

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

The word tomorrow has stirred up more excitement than a free trip to Disney Land and struck more fear in the hearts of mankind than a Freddy Krueger movie marathon. Tomorrow holds the promise of a new start, and the despair of a death-row march. Tomorrow is responsible for encouraging people to achieve lifelong goals and for excusing others from starting the process of achieving anything. More than any other word except the Name of Jesus, tomorrow holds within its borders the destinies of untold billions.

Tomorrow is sitting on the couch eating junk and complaining about our lives. Tomorrow is the day that we are going to get our lives in order. Start that diet. Begin an exercise program. Write that book. Tomorrow is a perceived opportunity to rewrite the ending to our story. It’s a starting line for some, and a finish line for others.

But tomorrow should be thought of more as another step in the process of becoming like Christ. Jesus knew what was coming in His life; He understood His purpose. In Luke, Jesus was warned that Herod was looking to kill Him. He responded, “And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem’” (13:32-33‬ ‭ESV).

How we approach tomorrow is important. It’s great to have a plan; it’s great to set goals, to challenge and push yourself toward their achievement. But scripture is clear that we have no guarantees of tomorrow. “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬). But worrying about tomorrow builds a wall between you and God; it robs you of the joy that is in Christ Jesus. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

It has been said that the greatest labor-saving invention of today is tomorrow. But Paul tells us, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We have an eternal hope for tomorrow, but a job to do today. We have the promise of new life in heaven “tomorrow,” but a harvest field that is “white for harvest” (John 4:35 emphasis mine) today.

Our dreams and destinies, victories and defeats, are not determined by what we plan to do tomorrow. They have always been, and will always be determined by how we choose to live our lives today.

As always, these are the musings of a mindful disciple. Blessings on your week!