Living Today

“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:9-12 NIV)

A recent post on Facebook read, “Friday, hurry up and get here. Pleasssssssssssse!”  It was Monday.  

We are not, by and large, a very patient society.  We are in a hurry to get to where we want to be.  A student can’t wait for the end of the school year.  A single can’t wait to find that special someone.  A guy in his 50’s can’t wait for retirement.  We often live for tomorrow and loath today.  

Thus, words like diligence, faith, and patience may be hard for us to fully comprehend; yet the Hebrew writer says these are required to live a successful life as a follower of Jesus.  In the passage preceding this one, he writes of those who have fallen away from the faith.  From what he writes here I would assume it was due to a lack of the very things he says are necessary.  They couldn’t wait for the promised blessing of eternal life.  Life was too hard and too tempting.  So they succumbed to the desires of the moment.  

Our lives are made up of many days and years.  Eternity, for most of us, is likely still a long way away.  To get to where we want to be will require much diligence, faith, and patience.  It won’t happen NOW, yet every day gets us one step closer.  So how we live today, tomorrow, and the next day is important.  

Today, be diligent in how you live.  It makes a difference and helps get you closer to where you want to be.  Continue to have faith because the Lord is faithful in keeping His promises.  And be patient because your rendezvous with eternity will arrive eventually and quicker than you might imagine.

© Jim Musser 2016