Regarding focusing on life, James exhorted. . .
“(13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” — (14) 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. (15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” (James 4:13-15 ESV)
Does this mark our attitude or perspective regarding life? Do we make plans as if they are a sure thing or do we do so with an understanding today is the day we have and tomorrow may be a hope but not a promise? When it comes to planning, we do not always know what all may come with the tomorrows that do come. Though planning for the future is a good thing since it serves to not leave the future merely to chance, we need to do so acknowledging time is not in our hands, but in God’s. Our plans need to trustingly rest in the plans of God! In our planning there must always remain an acknowledgment of God so our reliance and trust does not begin to rest with ourselves. Therefore, as the Lord wills, we move on from day to day taking care of what ought to be done in the present.
How are we handling the present as we acknowledge the relative brevity of life? (James 4:14) Are we giving due consideration to the “later” in relation to the now?
In light of this, consider the following recently shared by a brother in Christ.
============
“Later” becomes “too late.”
— Talk to you later.
— I’ll call you later.
— See you later.
— We’ll walk later.
— I’ll tell you later.
We leave everything for later but forget that “later” does not belong to us.
Later, our loved ones are no longer with us. Later, we don’t hear them and we don’t see them. Later, they are just memories. Later, the day becomes night, the force becomes helpless, the smile becomes a grimace, and life becomes death.
“Later” becomes “too late.”
— Author is Unknown
============
If the Lord Wills, there are “laters” which will come, but today is the day we have. May we remain mindful of utilizing the significant opportunities it provides!
Have a great day, EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF IT!
Carl
