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.” – James 4:14-15
People sometimes have the habit of putting things off for another day but we are too presumptuous to think that we will have another day tomorrow. Don’t put off what you can do today for tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised to anyone. We should plan for tomorrow but know that we will see it if it’s God’s will. We don’t know when our time on earth will be complete. Plan our lives like we will live forever but also don’t put things off when we have today to do them.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, – Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NIV
There was a time for us to be born and there will be a time for us to do everything that we are to do in this world before there is a time for us to die. Death is unavoidable and I pray that we will see the fullness of our days before God calls us to heaven.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. – 2 Peter 3:8 NIV
Something that people put off is committing their lives to Jesus. We think that we have all the time in the world to do everything that we want to do but then we wake up one morning and we are old and time has passed us by. Don’t wait for your time to be pass before you decide to walk with him. You might not have the opportunity to make the decision.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” – Ecclesiastes 12:1
The best time for you to dedicate your life to Jesus is when you are young. You have your whole life ahead of you and you can make the key decisions in your life with the power of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. You also want to be in relationship with the Holy Spirit to help you to get through tough and challenging situations that you may face as you get older and have greater responsibilities.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. – Matthew 24:36-42 NIV
It is good that we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return. If we did, more than likely we would be lazy or put things off until he arrives. We might keep sinning until the day before. And Put off doing what is right until we have to do what he called us to do. Since we don’t know when he is coming back we then have to make it a priority to get ready and stay ready for Him to come back. We don’t know our last day on earth so we live each day like we will see Jesus at any moment. We need to get our lives in the right relationship with him and not put off anything that we need to do for His glory.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. – Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV
All people die physically, but Christ died so that we would not have to die spiritually. We can have wonderful confidence in his saving work for us, that He has paid the price for our sins since we are found in him. If a person dies outside of Christ that will be judged for their sins with their life is over. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will go to heaven if you don’t accept Jesus sacrifice to pay for your sins.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. – Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
Jesus told this parable to clarify what it means to be ready for his return and how we are to live until he arrives. In the story of the 10 virgins the lesson to learn is that we are all responsible for our own spiritual condition. The prayers of our mother, father, or friend will not be a substitute for you dedicating your life to Christ and following him daily.