Today is Always Today

It may seem like a no-brainer, but Today is always Today. 

Today is not Yesterday for which opportunities are over and never to be identically repeated.  Time was poured out and never will be reclaimed. Yesterday, it was full of its mistakes and excuses, troubles and worries, regrets, failures, words we never should have spoken or written, and yes, Yesterday had its successes and achievements, too.  But that was Yesterday.  Yesterday is over.  Unless you’re the Beatles in which case it is an enduring hit song, not without controversy. 

Tomorrow also is not Today.  It’s Tomorrow.  A day none of us are guaranteed.  Some of us may never see Tomorrow.  All we have is Today.  Tomorrow offers the hope of things being better.  It holds the promise of second chances.  It represents a turning… as within 24 hours, Today will turn to Yesterday …and Tomorrow’s fresh start emerges with the sunrise as it becomes a new Today.  But that’s not guaranteed if Jesus returns and Christ-followers enter God’s rest, or we cash in our earthly chips, and they fall where they may.

But then there’s Today.  The only moment we are guaranteed: it’s right now.

The author of Hebrews stresses that Today is critically important.  It’s all we’ve got.  To many of us, the Good News and our obedience to it is now … or maybe never.  Even Today, there is nothing earned.  Nothing gained to unlock the doors to God’s rest.  Nothing, if we don’t believe, share the faith, and obey it.

Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Questions for today:

What are you doing with Today?  Are you procrastinating, counting on a Later or Tomorrow? 
In what way is Today pointing to the sabbath rest God promised for people to observe and enjoy as God enjoys His? 
God’s Word is alive and active Today.  It’s powerful to change lives Today.  What is your response to God’s Word?