Tomorrow.

 
HOW often do we hear the expression: “Tomorrow!” The business man confidently makes his plans for tomorrow; the farmer prepares his ground for sowing and planting tomorrow, friends part with, “See you tomorrow, “and so in all walks of life people live in expectancy of another day—aye, and of months and of years. I have no doubt that thoughts and plans for the future are natural and form part of human civilization, being based on the assumption that as things have gone on in the past, so will they in the future. Even as I write, I may have to put my pen down, trusting to pick it up again “Tomorrow.” How do we know that tomorrow, with its fulfillment of today’s plans will eventuate? How often do we find that the morrow brings changes which we had not reckoned on today!
In these days of rapid changes with the rise and fall of Governments, world-wide distress of nations and increasing crime; in fact in every phase of life we need to pause and consider. Let us make the application in the first person: “What do I know about tomorrow?” We say “Well, of course, that is if all goes well, or I hope so, etc., otherwise I do not know.” Now once this is admitted let us go further and ask: “Who does know?” There is One who knows — the Almighty One. He says, “I am God, there is NONE like Me, declaring the end from the beginning....” (Isa. 46:1010Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:10); John 1:1-31In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1‑3).) He has not left us in darkness as to what the future holds. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:3535Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35).) “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass... but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you!” (1 Peter 1:24-2524For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:24‑25).) This same Word says “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1).) “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell... whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:1313Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (James 4:13)); “Or as a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:66My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. (Job 7:6)); “We spend our years as a tale that is told” (Psa. 90:99For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. (Psalm 90:9)). These comparisons of life and time in God’s sight are summed up in Psalms 90:4: “For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”
Dear reader, it is in view of the great eternity which you have to face, and perhaps tomorrow may be your first step into eternity! For you, it will be one of two destinies, to be with Christ (Phil. 1:21-2321For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:21‑23); 2 Cor. 5:8,8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) etc.), or with the wicked dead awaiting the last resurrection (Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31)) to appear before the Great White Throne, and be dismissed into everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, with the Devil and his angels. (Rev. 20:10-1510And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10‑15).)
There are only two classes — saved and unsaved. By the former I mean those who have found in Jesus Christ their rest and peace, having the blessed assurance that the work of redemption for them was accomplished upon the Cross of Calvary when Christ Himself bore their sins in His Own Body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)), “They are assured of eternal life” ( John 3:15-16; 10:27-2915That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:15‑16)
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27‑29);1 John 5:11-12,11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11‑12) etc.), “Having experienced the saving power” (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16); Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)) are realizing the keeping power (1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5); 1 Thess. 5:2323And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23); 2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)) and awaiting day by day that resurrection power (1 Thess. 4:14-1714For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:14‑17); 1 Cor. 15:51-5351Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑53); Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)), when “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” What a moment! when the completed Church and Bride will rise at the voice of her Head and Bridegroom. The wheat will be gathered into His garner, but the chaff will He burn up with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:1212Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:12))
A.R.C.