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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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here today and gone tomorrow

"You have no idea what kind of life will be yours tomorrow." —James 4:14

Contrary to Scripture, most of us have many ideas about our lives tomorrow. We don't expect major changes. We certainly don't expect to die. We believe we're in control.

God's Word disagrees; it bluntly states: "You are a vapor that appears briefly and vanishes. Instead of saying, 'If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that,' all you can do is make arrogant and pretentious claims" (Jas 4:14-16). We're just thinking like everybody else, and God's Word calls us "arrogant and pretentious."

The Lord wants us neither to rest on our laurels nor count on the future but live for the present. "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2) We're not taking anything for granted. Life on earth is a gift, every heartbeat a grace. There's no guarantee that I will be able to finish writing this sentence, or you will be able to finish reading it. Our lives are fragile, precarious, and fleeting. Anything can happen at any time.

"Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all" (Ps 62:2-3).

Prayer:  Jesus, in a constantly changing world, You are my Rock, my Fortress, my Refuge (see Ps 18:3).

Promise:  "No man who performs a miracle using My name can at the same time speak ill of Me." —Mk 9:39

Praise:  Ronald committed as a young adult to pray daily for the conversion of six of his friends. Three of them converted within a year, two more converted within a decade, and the last one gave his life to Jesus many years later on his deathbed.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Am I Going to Heaven? on audio AV 54-3 or video V-54.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 8, 2013

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