Looking to Tomorrow with Hope

In the face of life's uncertainties, how do we approach tomorrow? This question becomes particularly poignant when we're confronted with weighty moments like funerals, where the reality of our mortality and the complexities of life come into sharp focus. It's in these moments that we feel the full weight of yesterday's regrets, today's responsibilities, and tomorrow's unknowns.

But what if we could transform our perspective on tomorrow? What if, instead of approaching it with dread or anxiety, we could face it with hope?

At the heart of this transformation is understanding what lies at the center of our tomorrows. For Christians, this centerpiece is the reality of Christ's return. The Bible speaks of a day when "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This day will come unexpectedly, "like a thief in the night," urging us to live as if any tomorrow could be the day of Christ's return.

This imminent return carries two important implications. First, it calls us to holy living. Knowing that our actions will be exposed should motivate us to align our lives with God's ways. But it's not just about fear or guilt; it's about becoming who we were always meant to be. As 1 John 3:2 beautifully puts it, "what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

To truly grasp how we should view tomorrow, we must first understand how God sees it. The apostle Peter offers profound insights:

1. God sees tomorrow in light of His eternality. "With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). God exists outside of time, not constrained or affected by it. This eternal perspective should influence how we view our current circumstances, especially our sufferings. As Paul reminds us, our present afflictions are "light and momentary" compared to the "eternal weight of glory" that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17).
2. God is sovereign over tomorrow. Nothing catches Him by surprise or causes Him to panic. He is in complete control.
3. God approaches tomorrow with compassionate patience. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). His seeming delay is actually an act of love, providing more opportunities for people to turn to Him.

So how should we live in light of God's perspective on tomorrow? Peter offers three key suggestions:

1. Submit your tomorrows to God. We should be "waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:12). This doesn't mean we can manipulate when Christ returns, but rather that we should long for and be zealous for that day. Practically, this involves regularly taking our tomorrows to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to help us see our anxieties and uncertainties in light of His eternal sovereignty and love.
2. Live today in light of tomorrow. Be diligent and intentional, but with humility. As James reminds us, we shouldn't make plans arrogantly, but rather say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:15). Our plans should align with the way of Jesus, aiming for holiness and righteousness in both our internal motivations and external actions.
3. Be at peace. After submitting our tomorrows to God and making humble, intentional plans, we should rest in the peace God provides. Jesus encourages us, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).

This approach to tomorrow is rooted in the gospel. Throughout history, God's plan has always been to have His people with Him. Despite human sin separating us from God, He provided a way back through Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Through faith in Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, we can be cleansed of our sins – past, present, and future – and restored to relationship with God.

For those who haven't yet embraced this salvation, today is the day to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved" (Acts 16:31). God's patient waiting is an opportunity for salvation.
For believers, this gospel truth should reshape how we face tomorrow. We're invited to embrace our salvation afresh and let it inform our perspective on the future. As the old hymn declares:

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living just because He lives"

Practical application of these truths involves:

1. Regularly submitting our tomorrows to God in prayer
2. Making plans with humility and intentionality, always aligning them with Jesus' way
3. Cultivating a habit of resting in God's peace, even when facing difficult tomorrows

As we practice these principles, we can grow in stability and decrease in anxiety when thinking about the future. It's a journey, and progress may be gradual, but by God's grace, we can truly learn to look to tomorrow with hope.

Remember, God is bigger and more eternal than any tomorrow we face. He encompasses our past, present, and future. In Him, we find the strength, peace, and hope to face whatever lies ahead.