The Only Two Days That Matter

Worry is a very natural part of the human experience. We worry about our health, kids, jobs, and future. We rationalize it in all kinds of ways. “I’m not worried; I’m just concerned.” “It’s natural for me to worry because I care.” But none of these excuses change the fact that we often worry about things we cannot control, and we do so in disobedience to the word of God.

Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:34 NASB). It is appropriate for us to be concerned about those that we love (2Cor. 11:28) and to plan for the future (Prov. 24:27). But when we worry we say with our hearts, even if not with our mouths, that we do not trust God to handle it. We may claim we believe in Christ, but worry says we do not have confidence in Him.

There really are only two days that should preoccupy us, two days that matter enough to dominate our thinking and concern: today and that day. Today is the only day we know we have (Jas. 4:13-17. Our lives are frail and fleeting; none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Our primary concern should be to live for Christ today, to be faithful on this day, and leave worries about tomorrow to God. The second day that should preoccupy us, that day, is the day we see Jesus and stand before Him to give account of our lives here (2Cor. 5:10). The hope of being with Him one day and seeing Him “as He is” will inspire greater holiness and consecration (1John 3:2-3). Today is important because it is the only day I know I will have an opportunity to serve and glorify God, and that day is most important – I should live today so as to be prepared for that day, whenever it comes.

Many Christians are paralyzed by regrets about yesterday and fears about tomorrow. But I cannot do anything about yesterday. My sins and the shame of what was then are covered by Christ’s blood. I cannot be certain of tomorrow, and Jesus forbids me to worry about it. But I have today, and to the best of my ability, with the help of God’s Spirit and the power of His grace, I must live my life today as one who is living for that day. O Lord come! -JME

Anchor Your Heart to God's Word

The human heart is deceitful and easily deceived (Jer. 17:9). The writer of Proverbs twice said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). None of us should trust our hearts. We should not rely on our wisdom or our sense of what is right and good. Our moral conscience, the inner sense of right and wrong, is a wonderful thing. But it can be misinformed (Acts 23:1; cf. 1Tim. 1:13) or misled (1Cor. 4:4; Tit. 3:3). Trusting our hearts is merely a subtle, sinful way of trusting in ourselves.

Society preaches loudly and persistently that we should follow our heart, trust our gut, do what feels good, and live in whatever way seems best. Are we surprised that fallen, prideful, selfish beings would trust their own wisdom instead of trusting God? But sadly, many professing believers have embraced society’s message and adopted the doctrine of trusting in the heart instead of in the trustworthy God. The error is subtle and easily overlooked. “You have to learn to follow your heart,” writes Joel Osteen. “Believe in yourself,” urges Joyce Meyer. But what do the Proverbs say? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (3:5). “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?” (20:9). The implication is: no one. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart” (21:2). “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge” (23:12).

Our instincts will often mislead us. We cannot trust our inner perception of what is true. We need God to guide us, and He has revealed His will infallibly and authoritatively in the Bible (2Tim. 3:16-17). When someone says, “I think God…” we need to ask, “What did God say?” Our hearts are fickle. Unrestrained they will lead us to the depths of despair or to the ecstasy of false assurance. Anchor your heart to God’s word (Heb. 6:17-19). What He says is always right (Prov. 30:5) and always for our good (Deut. 6:24). God is unchanging (Mal. 3:6). Who He is will never change. What He says will never change. His promises will never fail. Trust Him. Bury yourself in His word. And do not be misled by your own deceptive heart. -JME

Both Saint and Sinner: How Does This Truth Help Me? (Part Four)

Over three other posts (here, here, and here) we have discussed the truth that every Christian is, in this life, both a sinner (Rom. 3:23; 1Tim. 1:15) and a saint (Rom. 1:7; Gal. 3:26-29). We observed that while both terms are used to describe believers, our identification with Christ is primary and determinative in terms of our character, behavior, and hope. Since God has given us the new birth (John 1:12-13), we are being remade in the image of Christ (Col. 3:9-11). Jesus has redeemed us from sin’s penalty and power; therefore, we have power to resist sin and practice righteousness (Rom. 6:15-18). Because the Spirit of God dwells in us, we have confidence in our union with Christ and eventual resurrection (Rom. 8:9-11) and power to resist the fleshly temptations that remain (Rom. 8:12-17).

This is where our discussion of Christian identity becomes practical and helpful. The Bible does not command behavior in order to create a new identity; it commands behavior on the basis of our new identity (Eph. 4:17-24). God speaks to us as a Father, not instructing us how to earn His love and acceptance, but how to live in light of it. Therefore, we ought to hear the commands of Scripture, not with the despair of those under the penalty and power of sin, but as those liberated from it and reconciled to God.

This gives us great encouragement and power for obedience. We obey God ought of joy and gratitude, not slavish fear or terror of His wrath (1 John 4:17-19). God’s work of regeneration and reconciliation, coupled with our union with Christ and the Spirit’s indwelling, shows us we can overcome sin because Christ has defeated it (Rom. 6:1-18).

Anyone who says they cannot do what Scripture commands denies this work of God in their lives. It is unbelief for me to tell God I cannot do what He enables me to do by grace. Can I love my enemy (Matt. 5:43-48)? Yes, I can by grace. Can I forgive my enemy (Col. 3:12-15)? Yes, I can by grace. Can I overcome bitterness, depression, anger, and despair (Eph. 4:25-32)? Yes, I can by grace. The power does not lie in me. It lies in the One who gave Himself for me, who now lives within me (Gal. 2:20; Php. 4:13). Do you trust Him enough to surrender yourself entirely to Him? -JME

Both Saint and Sinner: Which Identity Defines Me? (Part Three)

In two previous installments (here and here) we discussed every believer’s “dual identity” as both saint (Rom. 1:7) and sinner (1Tim. 1:15). Though many vigorously deny it, the Bible uses both terms to describe Christians in this life. But while the Bible describes us as both, it is evident one “identity” is primary in the Christian’s life.

Salvation is more than believing certain facts, saying a prayer, or receiving baptism. It includes a new heart (Ezek. 36:26), adoption as God’s child (Eph. 1:4), redemption from slavery to sin (Titus 2:14), and reconciliation to God (Col. 1:21-22). Salvation is not merely God forgiving what we have done; it is Him changing who we are. We are a “new creation” (2Cor. 5:17). “Our old self was crucified” with Christ (Rom. 6:6); now “Christ…lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). I am a child of God and an heir with Christ (Gal. 4:4-7). Though I sin and fall short, “there is now no condemnation” because I am in Christ (Rom. 8:1).

Because I still sin and realize my imperfection, it is appropriate to describe me as a sinner. But I am not just a sinner, not even primarily a sinner. I am, by God’s grace, a saint. Christ has changed my relationship to Him, and that changes everything. Whereas once I was “foolish, disobedient, led astray” and enslaved to my sin (Titus 3:3), Christ has become for me “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). Though I was dead in my sin “having no hope and without God” (Eph. 2:1, 12), “now in Christ Jesus… [I] have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). I have peace with God (Rom. 5:1), and having been reconciled by Christ, I have eternal life and “will never perish” (John 10:28).

I am a sinner, but that is not who or what defines me. The Bible commands me to live according to the reality of the change God has made in my life (Eph. 4:17-24). God adopted you; live like His child (Rom. 8:12-17). Christ redeemed you; sin no longer has power over you (Rom. 6:15-18). The Spirit dwells in you; don’t live in ways that grieve Him (Eph. 4:25-32). We are not working for grace; we are working from it. -JME

Part Four

Both Saint and Sinner: How Can I Be Both? (Part Two)

Previously we noted the disagreement between some believers regarding the proper identity (or way to identify) Christians. Some insist believers are saints, not sinners, whereas others insist they are sinners, not saints. But we found that the Bible describes Christians in this life as both (Rom. 1:7; 1Tim. 1:15).

How can both ways of identifying believers be true? There are two answers to this question, one relating to justification and the other to sanctification. Justification (God declaring us righteous) is based, not on our merit or work, but on the righteousness of Christ (2Cor. 5:21). Therefore, while God declares us righteous and holy, we are, in fact, personally unholy and sinful at the time (Rom. 5:6-8). We are both saint (by divine declaration) and sinner (by our deeds).

Sanctification (holiness and conformity to Christ) involves the progressive growth in grace as we obey Christ in the power of the Spirit (Rom. 6:16-18; 2Pet. 3:18). But this progressive sanctification is always incomplete in this life (1Jn. 3:2-3). We are becoming more like Jesus, but we are not altogether like Him yet (2Cor. 3:18). We still fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, while we are growing in saintliness, we still stumble and are sinners (1Jn. 1:8-10). We are both saint (by trajectory) and sinner (by weakness).

Now some will say that our frequent failures and mistakes as believers should not define us as sinners. I wholeheartedly agree, and that will be our subject in the next installment of this series. But when we sin we are, in one respect, sinners. Paul clearly states, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am [not was] the foremost” (1Tim. 1:15). There is a sense in which even though I am God’s child, I still am properly described as a sinner. My shortcomings are not merely mistakes; they are transgressions against the glory and goodness of God. He loves me. He accepts me in Christ. But I must never view my acceptance in a way that underestimates the gravity of my sin. I am, by God’s grace, a saint, but my appreciation for that grace is all the greater because I realize that I still am a sinner. -JME

Part Three: Which Identity Defines Me?

Part Four: How Does This Truth Help Me?