There's Only Now: Part 2

There’s only now to act. Yesterday does not exist now. Tomorrow does not exist until it comes. As we see from God’s Word, there is no guarantee that tomorrow is coming. Therefore, we need to think, speak and act from the frame of reference that there is only now. God’s Word tells us that there is only now (Proverbs 27:1; Matthew 6:34). God’s mercy is new everyday. You have to be in the now because that is the only way you can be in faith and it is the only place you can access God. If you have the right perspective – the mind of God – then you can have proper priorities. When you have God’s perspective, then you can start setting your life up.

Having the mind of God helps you to prioritize. No one can do everything. You have to know when to say “no.” This is especially important given that we live in hostile territory – the enemy’s world. You cannot have the right priorities if you don’t know how to say “no.” You have to take your cues from God in order to be the best person God calls you to be. If you don’t have the mind of God, you cannot see right and, therefore, you cannot have right priorities. Having the mind of Christ helps us to see right and helps us to have right priorities. There are only two choices you can make – right or wrong. God set it up this way for our benefit. He always tells us what is right.

There are only two sets of priorities. The first set is society’s priorities. In 1 John 2:15-17, God points out society’s priorities. The first thing God says is “Do not” for our protection. He gives us the buffer up front. The third word in these verses is “love.” That is the real issue – Where is your affection? Where is your priority? God tells us “do not love the world.” Our assignment is to be in the world to get saved and rescue the captives. God has equipped us to be in the world and win, but we are not to love the world. The “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” is pleasure, possessions and prestige, respectively. There is no joy, peace, happiness, contentment, fulfillment or satisfaction in this world. In these scriptures, “lust” is contradicted with “love.” Love is a commitment and dedicated attitude. Love is life. Lust, on the other hand, is convenient and it is all about emotions. Lust is death. If you believe that lust is love, then you will lust after the wrong things and call it love. Lust leads to regret.

If we make society’s priorities our priorities, then we will surely die. People are deceived into believing that pleasure, possessions and prestige is the end. God says that these are a means to enjoying life and fulfilling God’s will and purpose for us. We have God’s blessings at our disposal (Genesis 12; Galatians 3). The blessings of Abraham are for whoever is in Christ. God will give you pleasure, possessions and prestige if it is not your goal because they will kill you (John 10:10). The only way to get these things is to forget them. God tells us to cease from our own works (Hebrews 4:10). We are supposed to receive by God’s grace, not by our own works.

The second set is God’s priorities. Having God’s priorities is not about religion, it is about relationship (John 17:3). We should make it our priority to know God. Let God bring it to you because you are pursuing Him. Eternal life is that we know God and Jesus Christ. This means pleasure, possessions and prestige aren’t a god.

Proper priorities will determine success (Matthew 6:31-34). If you don’t determine your priorities, then you are letting other people control you. If you are chasing pleasure, possessions and prestige, you are letting others control you. When you are not living in line with your priorities, it produces stress. When you are living in line with your priorities, it produces peace.

Don’t take the simplicity of Christ or the wisdom of God for granted. Simplicity is worth everything. You build your house on a rock by hearing what the Lord says and following it (Matthew 7:24). It is unnecessary for your house to fall because you have heard the simplicity of the Word of God. We cannot think that we will be immune. The covenant of God is like an umbrella – it makes us insusceptible to attack. God is faithful to those who hear His Word and obey Him – that can be anybody.

There is only now. If we hear and obey God now, He will set us up for what is to come. God knows that we have needs. His response is for us to have right priorities, not to chase pleasure, possessions and prestige. God is telling us that the answer is proper priorities. God’s remedy is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” This scripture does not say seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness – it says make this first. Your life should be built on a rock so that it won’t fall. God tells us to seek Him first – this means that He is obligated. He shows Himself strong when we walk by faith.