Human life is not something concrete but rather a finite hope that we hang on to. Our lives are our own to use for whatever purposes we want. We're willing to live for God.... tomorrow. How true is that? I know for me it's always easier to promise God that I'll spend time with him tomorrow, but I just can't right now. Or maybe, God I really do want to make you known in my school, but I'm not good at evangelizing. I'm not trying to argue that we will be perfect, just that God wants our lives. The response to a HOLY God should be "I surrender" not "I will surrender... eventually... I promise... just let me do my own thing for a bit longer." The truth is that we could not live to see the end of today.
Death is a taboo subject. But Christ came and broke all the social barriers. We have little control over our lives, yet we think too often that we run the show. Listen to this statement:
We could be face to face with the Mighty Lord Jesus Christ this very day.
Think about that for a second. Do you truly believe that God has the power over life AND over death. That he can create a new life and take an old one away? People of every age and every background die every day, what makes us so invincible?
Now answer this: are you ready? We say we are. But get past the surface, do more than just rely on the standard "goody-two-shoes" Christian response. Too often we figure that we can start living for God tomorrow.
If Jesus had put off dieing on the cross until "tomorrow" where would we be right now?
If our God didn't give us everything, where would we be? Does that scare you? It should.
We make time an idol. Jesus Christ, the Creator of the world, stands outside of time. Before time was created (yes, time wasn't just there) God was. By saying we'll live for Christ tomorrow we're denying him today. God doesn't make room for lukewarm "Christians" he demands all or nothing. We worship time. We give our lives to the concept of tomorrow, working for something that we have deemed worthwhile. Maybe it's a job, or a family, or a lifestyle. But none of these compare to the eternity we will be spending either with God or without him. We make our lives on earth out to be important, but in the end, what have we done with God?
God calls us to live for him. To deny our flesh that says "do it later" and to cling to the cross that cries out "I love you now, and forever." God wants us always. How can we even bare to think that we WILL love him... tomorrow? We always say procrastination is bad, but usually we limit it to the realm of homework or our occupations. Putting off God's calling is equivalent to telling the King of the Universe "No, I'd rather do things my way." We are an arrogant, spineless, cowardly, worthless, broken people. Yet we DEMAND God's love NOW. If you wan't God's love then prove it. I'm not saying grace is not sufficient. What I am saying, like James, is that "faith without deeds is dead." If we really are followers of Christ we should be following him from the Cross to the Grave today.
Death is coming friends. Everyone will die. So don't pretend anymore. You or I could be standing before God giving an account of our life on earth BEFORE WE FINISH READING THIS SENTENCE. I'll say it again. We could die WITHIN THIS VERY MINUTE. Yet we still treat God as a parent that we just need to appease, to do just enough. Time was created BY GOD so that we could spend every minute in his presence making him known and praised throughout all creation. I don't know when, but we all will stand before the throne someday. maybe that day is today? What will you have to say about your life? God isn't going to accept "Well, I was going to do it, I was just too busy." Does that work when you're late on a homework assignment? Of course not. God's assignment to us is to take up our Cross and follow him. Revelation 3:1 says this "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." Unfortunately we all fall into that trap sometimes. But the greatest thing is that once we realize who we are without God we can humbly begin to seek him in earnest.
I end with this. Live for God today, because you have no right to demand tomorrow. If God calls you to testify for your life today, will you be ready?
-matt
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