There's Only Now: Part 11

With everything that is going on in the world around us, this message is for now. We must remember – There is only now. Don’t allow distractions to make you ineffective now. God is always talking to us about what we should be doing presently. We are not to presume on tomorrow. We should maximize the present. We have to remember that we will have to answer to God for the decisions that we make. This helps us to see whether what we are doing now is a waste or not. We should have reverential fear of God. We want to give a good account to God when the time comes, so we must examine our lives and ask ourselves: What will last? God tells us what will last. God’s wisdom and His counsel are eternal (Proverbs 19:21 NKJV). Therefore, we should try to get God’s wisdom and counsel in all that we do so that we can build our lives on a rock, which is the Lord Himself.

First, we have to examine our thoughts. We must renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2). With respect to your thoughts, you must ask: Will they last? Are they in line with God’s counsel? If they are not, then you have the power to bring them in line with God’s counsel. Second, we have to examine our words or conversation. Are you talking about things that will last or about things that are inconsequential, temporary and subject to change? Conversation is fuel for thoughts. Everything must build upon that which will last. With all of the chaos in the world, God’s word is still eternally established. We have to learn to line our lives up with what is eternal. Third, we must examine our time (Romans 13: 11-14). The only thing that matters is right now – we must get this because it enables God to be in control right now. If we really trust God in everything, then He is responsible for everything that happens to us. This is the eternal truth. Satan tries to get us out of the present. God does not have a moment ago or a tomorrow. He is eternal. Once we are in Christ, we also are eternal. Our lives are nothing but a vapor (James 4:14). What are we doing with the short time that we have here? Fourth, we must ask if what we are doing with our money is going to last. People in the world are fearful now about what they think won’t happen in the future about their money. Believers must look to God. You must be diligent and get before God and ask Him whether you are on target with your money, as well as your thoughts, conversation and time. You have to ask God whether you are near anything that will last. If you mess up now, it will cost you everything. If you win right now, you win forever. Wake up, don’t act dead and God will give you understanding. Depend on God and you will maximize what is happening right now.

Jesus cautioned us in Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” With God as your help, will you take an honest look at where you are heavily invested? For example, the tithe belongs unto the Lord. If you tithe, then your heart is with the Lord. However, if you are socking your money away for retirement, then your heart is in retirement. This is presuming on tomorrow. God tells us not to worry about tomorrow. God is faithful. He will cause you to be blessed. David said in Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” A shepherd leads the sheep. David said that God was his shepherd because he followed God. We don’t need to understand it and it doesn’t need to make sense. We just need to walk by faith and not by sight. God will never tell you to do the same thing over and over again because that’s not faith. He will lead you in ways that you don’t understand.

You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). However, you need money to serve God. Money is a tool God gives us to fulfill His plan. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Giving is the only way we can fulfill God’s plan for us. God will work everything together for your good when you put Him first. If you put Him first, there is no way you can come up short. We are soldiers for Christ. We are in a fight. There is nothing you can do to save yourself.

There is trouble today, so don’t worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:33-34). Take care of today. Overcome today with God’s grace and mercy that is only available to you right now, which will set you up for whatever may come. You are preparing for the future by living correctly now. If something is first in your life, then it touches everything in you life and everything in your life is arranged around it. If you would establish your life around God, then God would work your life out. Worry brings confusion and destruction. Worry is pride. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. We need to embrace the Word with all our heart and ask the Lord to help us. Those who are established in God know that if they love Him then God will work everything together for their good. There is only now. What you do right now will determine your deliverance or not.

In His Word, God tells us to wake up so that we won’t be dead (Romans 13:11). Your deliverance is nearer than when you started. If you wake up, you will be out. Sin isn’t worth it. We are in a war. You need to operate on the Word right now because there is a war going on. You have to “put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12) Understanding will come after you take the step of faith. We must conducts ourselves honestly (Romans 13:13). When you give up getting your own way, you cease from sin (Romans 13:14). Until you give up getting your own way, you are still a sinner. God will give you the desires of your heart, but you have to give up getting your own way so that He can bring it to pass. Suffering is the only way you can be promoted. Jesus was given the name above all names because He did thing’s God’s way.

God sent Jesus to save us from ourselves. If you give up getting your own way, you will be blessed. If seeking first the kingdom of God is your first priority then your life will show it – specifically, your thoughts, conversation, time and money. God is trying to take care of you, but He can’t if you are trying to get it your own way. This is a word of liberation. The truth always delivers. God tells us not to be anxious because He wants to take care of us (Philippians 4:6).