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One of the most humbling thoughts for man is the thought that he cannot control his future.

Although we spend millions of dollars on health care, spend billions on extensive research to the most common diseases, and take various strides in being healthy, we cannot escape the most common destination known to man: death. But take heart - the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He rose again from the grave and therefore defeated the power and fear of death!

Notice that Hebrews chapter 2:14-15 states: "Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying."

People do not have to fear death; Jesus has defeated death's power. The Word of God also states in the second part of 1 Corinthians 15:54-55:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory. "Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

I think it's important to give you the good news up front, because that is necessary to look at life on Earth in a victorious way. Jesus Christ died and rose again so that anyone who admits that they have sinned (as we all have), and believes in their heart that Jesus died and rose again for them, and calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Romans 10:9-13 explains this clearly.

The Word of God warns us many times about the reality of death and its consequences, mainly so that we prepare ourselves spiritually before our life ends by receiving and living for Jesus. Not only does the Word of God remind us of our mortality as humans, but so does everyday life.  

I remember when my father, like many Bermudians, would turn to the obituaries in the Royal Gazette before even reading the main story on the front page. As one becomes more "seasoned" we turn to this section to prepare our weekly schedules to include funerals we may need to attend.

Our more "senior" population tends to do this more than our youth of course because more people they know end up in this section. And as we get older we realize that what our parents did is something that we will also practice. When a loved one passes, when a family member or friend gets gravely ill, when our own health becomes unbalanced, we are reminded that life on earth is not forever.  

The Bible states that God has given us an average of 70 years, although many pass much sooner. Because death is inevitable - and only those things that we do for Jesus' sake last forever -how should we live our lives? Let's look at a passage of the Bible that teaches us how to live.  

What tomorrow brings

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  James 4:13-16.  

James starts out by getting our attention with the words, "Now listen..." (It sounds like a parent talking to a child, doesn't it?) He then states that many of us live life by expecting to 'have' tomorrow. We have a tendency to plan our lives as if we are guaranteed tomorrow.

When we plan with such an expectation we say things such as, "Next year I'm going to university." or "Next year I am going to Canada for vacation" or "I'm taking my children to Disney World this summer." James rebukes us all and puts us right in our place by sending the message that we don't know what will happen tomorrow and yet we have the nerve to talk as if we are guaranteed to live next year!  

There is nothing wrong with planning, but only when we plan with God in the picture. When we plan without God we plan with what is really the false confidence that, no matter what, our plans will come to pass. We have all been in situations when we thought life would be according to our plan, only to realize we have little control over many circumstances, over other people, over the weather - and we especially lack control over our own lives.

Today, in James' words it might sound something like, 'Who do you think you are? After all, your life is like the mist from boiling water that appears for a short time and then vanishes in the air. That's what your life is like. Instead you should say, if God is willing, I will live and do this or do that.' James concludes by emphasizing his message with the point: When we boast we are actually doing something 'evil'! What a strong word!

Sins of ommission

The last part of this verse is what really gets to me all time. "...Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins." Wow! Not only can you sin by the things you do, but also do you realize that you can sin by what you do not do? When we look at our lives as if tomorrow is a guarantee... we sin; and when we do not do what we should do because we have such a short life... we sin.

Let's make the most out of our lives by doing what God wants us to do today, because we only have

today.

I remember someone telling me years ago, and this is worth remembering... 'Yesterday is always gone, tomorrow never comes, today is always here.' Let's spend our lives focusing on today, as it's all we have.

Pastor Gary C. Simons serves as Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, 82 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda

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