Isaiah 43:18 New International Version
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
Matthew 6:34 New International Version
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
At some point in our life, we have likely been told by our elders to “not wish our life away” and to “stop and smell the roses.”
As young people with much to do, we probably ignored the advice.
We know that humans have many traits that God wants to remedy. Among them are greed, pride, jealousy, bitterness, etc. These can be very damaging to our spiritual life and growth.
A lesser but still important fault that we don’t think about very often is not living for the moment at hand.
Unfortunately, many folks live in the past. In their heyday. Remembering and reliving their important jobs or station in life. Also, many carry guilt from their past sins and are unable to shake the guilt and move on. Again, dwelling and living in the past.
On the flip side, many folks live for the future. They in essence “wish their life away” for some upcoming milestone or accomplishment. Maybe they are looking for advancement or new position. Maybe they are looking forward to paying off their home or retiring from the rat race. Whatever it is, they are always looking forward, to the future.
What does God’s word tell us about this? As the scriptures used in this lesson tell us, we are to forget the former things, not dwelling on the past as well as not worrying about tomorrow.
Think about this; how many joyous moments do we not fully embrace because of not living in the moment?
Another thing to think about is that the only breath we are guaranteed is the one we just took.
James 4:13-15 New International Version
13 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.” 14 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. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Instead of resting on our laurels or wishing our life away for some future milestone, let us learn to enjoy each and every day as its own. Let us enjoy each and every moment of each day, as if it is our last day in this body.
From a spiritual standpoint, let us learn that today is all that matters. Let us draw closer to God today, than we were yesterday. Let us be a brighter light to the world today, than we were yesterday. Let us worship and praise God more today than we did yesterday.
This is all that we need to focus on. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Enjoy the moment.
Rejoice in the Lord always as Paul instructs us.
Live for the moment.
Live for God in the moment.
RVH