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Boasting of Tomorrow

Death is unquestionable to all men as the fruit of sin or by the appointment of God. It has a fixed specific time, which cannot be exceeded, but no man knows of that day and hour. Therefore, he cannot boast of a moment of future time, tomorrow, or what he shall enjoy on a particular day. He has only today.

He cannot be sure he shall have the next. He cannot assure himself of health, honor, pleasures, riches, and friends. He may have health today and sickness tomorrow; be in honor today, and in disgrace the next. He may bid his soul to eat, drink, and be merry. After all, he has had much wealth and provisions for many years. But vainly, he says that each day will be the same with much more abundance. Yet this night, his soul may be required of him. Today, he may have his wife, children, friends, and relations about him. However, before another day comes, they may be stripped from him.

Riches are uncertain things; they may take wings and fly away. Nor should a man boast of what he will do on the morrow, either in civil matters, trade and business, or acts of charity. Whatever a man finds his duty to do, he should do it at once while he has an opportunity.

In things religious, a man should repent of his sins, amend his life, and hear the Gospel, the voice of Christ. All these things should be done today and not put off until tomorrow. Nor should true believers procrastinate the profession of their faith, nor should any duty or exercise of religion be postponed to another season. Men should work today and always abound in the work of the Lord and found so doing.

You don’t know what a day may bring. Time is like a pregnant woman. She knows not what she shall bring forth till the time comes. Will it be a son or a daughter, a dead or a living child? So are the events of time. They are the secret things that belong to God. The passage of time and seasons of things are in his power. We don’t know what the present day will bring forth. We still know less about what tomorrow will do. What changes will tomorrow produce in our circumstances, in our bodies, and in our minds? Therefore, we cannot be sure what we shall be, what we shall have, or what we shall do tomorrow, even provided we have one.

~~~ John Gill (1696-1771)

December 22, 2022 - Posted by Bill Wyler | advice, Bible, Death, Religion | 2022, Bible, Responsibility, Tomorrow, Truth