Why Is Tomorrow Not Promised?

　　James 4:13-24 says, “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.’ 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.”

　　Similarly, Proverbs 27:1 tells us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” From these passages of Scripture, we are told that we are not promised tomorrow. Each day could be our last day and as believers, knowing this should change how we spend our daily lives.

　　

We Are Not Promised Tomorrow

Tomorrow is not promised. Each day of your life could be the last day. This is a cold reality that each person needs to acknowledge. For believers, it can be alarming that today could be your last day, however, for unbelievers, it should be even more alarming.

　　As believers, we know that we will be with Jesus at the moment of death because we have placed faith in Him (John 3:16-17). Unbelievers will go to hell at the time of their death because they have not placed faith in Jesus. There are 151,600 dying each day. How many of these people are dying without coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord? Are you one of them?

　　

Why We Should Not Worry about Tomorrow

If you are a believer and you know you have eternal life with Jesus, you should still heed the true reality of this day as possibly being your final day here on earth. Rather than invoking fear in the heart of the believer, it should invoke motivation to help others come to know Christ.

　　Jesus tells us plainly in the Great Commission that all believers have the duty to go out, share the gospel, and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). To not help others to know Christ is to disobey God. If there are 151,600 people dying each day, Christians are to be all the more motivated to help the loss come to know Christ.

　　The Bible tells us that if an individual does not place faith in Jesus prior to their death, they will be eternally separated from God and eternally condemned. Hell is not a place people should joke about. Hell is a real reality that will befall upon all unbelievers and there are no second chances. Jesus describes hell as being agonizing and eternal torment (Luke 16:23).

　　The afterlife is nothing a person should play around with as there is life after death. The immaterial soul within every human being is eternal and it never ceases to exist. The only question is where you will spend eternity — heaven or hell?

　　

God Is Not the God of Fear

Each human being’s life is ticking away. Each day could be our last. Rather than fretting over this reality, believers need to make every day count and live it as if it is our last day. God has entrusted each believer with their own unique spiritual gifts and their own resources (1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

　　It is wise for believers to utilize their spiritual gifts and resources to further advance the gospel message. Not all Christians are called to become missionaries and travel overseas to spread the gospel, but all Christians are called to share the gospel. A Christian can share the gospel with family members, friends, and coworkers.

　　Any person you pass on the street can be an opportunity for you to share the gospel and help them come to know Jesus. People do not normally accept the gospel the first time they hear it, however, it is our duty as believers to help them hear the message and understand it in a meaningful way.

　　This does not mean that every person we share the gospel with will accept the message, however, it does mean that you are being faithful in telling others about Jesus. We cannot control the outcome of a person’s decision of whether or not they accept Christ as the decision has to be freely made by the individual.

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Knowing Where You Will Spend Tomorrow

If you were to die today, where would you be tomorrow? Heaven? Hell? Or do you believe you will cease to exist? The Bible tells us there is life after death and you will go to one of two places at the moment of death. Believers will go to be with the Lord in heaven and unbelievers will go to hell.

　　You can accept Jesus today if you have not placed faith in Him. You do not have to do a special ritual or recite special words in order to be saved. All you have to do is believe that Jesus died for the bad things you have done, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

　　If you believe this, you are eternally saved, and nobody can snatch you out of God’s hand (John 10:28-30). If you have placed faith in Jesus today, that is amazing and I’m so happy you are part of God’s family now! Now, you must live each day as if it is your last. Each day matters in the grand spectrum of things. As believers, we are to obey God and live for Him each day of our lives.

　　We all will have to stand before the judgment seat of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” This fact should motivate us to live each day as our last and live holy lives for the glory of God.

　　Tomorrow is not promised as anybody could die today, including you or me. This is why it is vital for all people to place faith in Jesus, live for Him, and tell others about the saving grace of Jesus.

　　It can be easy to forget the brevity of life until unexpected times come upon our lives, such as the death of a loved one or the diagnosis of an incurable illness. However, the Bible tells us we need to be wise about how we spend our days on earth as tomorrow is not promised.

　　For further reading:

　　What Does the Bible Say about the End of the World?

　　Why Is the Lord Compared to ‘A Thief in the Night’?

　　Why Should We Not Worry about Tomorrow?

　　Should We Always Be Watchful for Jesus’ Return?

　　How Is God Not the Author of Fear?