Why You Need to Live for Tomorrow Starting Now

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Are you living today for tomorrow? The child of God must be vigilant in how we are living because how we live affects not just our tomorrow.

Intrduction

We’re all on a battlefield, and when you’re on a battlefield, the goal should be to make it to the next day.  Are you living today for tomorrow?  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover 1 Pet. 2:11-12; 3:13-17; 4:7-11; 5:8-10, as Peter shares an important word about making it to tomorrow.

Today Is Temporary

When I speak about living for tomorrow, I need to clarify that I am not talking about the next day of the week.  The tomorrow that I am speaking of is the tomorrow shown to us in Revelation 21-22.  When tomorrow comes, a new heaven and a new earth will come forth.  When tomorrow comes, God said that He will wipe away every tear and there shall be no more pain and no more death.

Tomorrow is what we ought to be living for today.  In 1 Peter 2:11, Peter clearly had his eyes on tomorrow as he spoke of us as being sojourners and pilgrims.  A sojourner is one who is a temporary resident, and a pilgrim is one journeys in foreign lands.

We must understand and live knowing that earth is not our permanent home, as we are only in this world temporarily.  As James eloquently put it, our life is like a vapor that appears for a little time before it vanishes away (Jas. 4:14).  We are all on a pilgrimage in this world, journeying to our eternal (permanent) home.  

The question one must answer is whether or not our eternal home will be with the God or apart from Him.  How you choose to live today will determine where you dwell tomorrow.

Be Vigilant in Today’s World

In 1 Peter 2:12, Peter focused on the believer’s conduct, especially amongst Gentiles.  The conduct of Christians, I believe, is the most focused-on thing found in New Testament scripture, aside from Christ’s sacrifice.  The believer’s conduct is a point of focus not just because of the goal of heaven, but also because we are being watched and studied.

You are being watched and studied by your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  You are also being watched and studied by those who are not of the faith, but are open to receiving the word of God.  Lastly, you are also being watched and studied by those who oppose the way of God.

You see, someone is watching you so that they may see the way that is right.  Someone may be watching you right now so that they can be uplifted and encouraged.  Sadly, others may be watching you because they have such a spiteful soul in them that they can’t do anything but hate.

With this in mind, in 1 Peter 5:8, Peter advised believers to be sober and vigilant.  To be sober-minded means one is focused.  To be vigilant means one is alert and ready.  

Since we are being watched, we must always keep in mind that we can encourage and persuade others to live for tomorrow.  Our desire ought to be to fulfill our calling as being a light in the world (Matt. 5:14) – setting a good example for others to see.  The reason why this ought to be our desire is because God’s will is for all men to be saved (John 6:40).

Meeting Hostility on the Battlefield

Now, as we set out to do the Lord’s will, we are again reminded that we are on a battlefield and will face hostility.  Something scripture never attempts to hide from us is the hardship of the believer.  Jesus taught the apostles to expect being despised and persecuted by the world because He was despised and persecuted (John 15:18).

The spiritual warfare we face is a battle of principles by which one chooses to live by; it is a battle of good and evil.  Now, some may think that what is deemed to be good or evil is subjective; however, spiritually speaking, that is not the case.  What is holy and righteous is that which the Lord has deemed to be holy and righteous.  Anything that opposes the Lord’s desire is deemed to be sinful– unrighteous.  

In His teaching, Jesus told the disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:19).”  This is a statement that is still true today.   

No Need to Fear Anyone

Not everyone will enjoy or appreciate the light you will share.  In the next passage of scripture from 1 Peter 3:13-17, the thought of being hated by the world and living in fear is further presented to us.  Should the believer be afraid of being despised and hated?  Should we fear those who despise us?

If we fear being hated by those around us, then we will change who we are to appease our haters.  The last thing that anyone should do is change who they are to appease someone who despises them, especially the child of God.  The child of God ought not seek to please man, but rather, we ought to seek to please God and be exalted by Him (Gal. 1:10).  

Fear can be incredibly detrimental to the believer by keeping us from moving.  Fear can become a paralyzing spirit, as fear can lead to doubt.  Faith, on the other hand, is a spirit that is living, breathing, moving, and active.

The Lord has never tried to hide the fact that we will be persecuted because of our faith and will have much tribulation.  As a minister of the gospel, I have never hidden that the journey of faith is not an easy one.  Yet, while we will face much struggle, there is a word of comfort for all of us who are of faith.  Jesus taught that His sheep, His followers, are protected in the hands of God (John 10:28).

David sang that the Lord was his fortress, his shield, and refuge (Ps. 91:2).  Being shielded and protected by God is what Peter had in mind when he asked, “Who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?”  

Can man harm you if you are in the hands of God?  No.  Can the devil and his army of demons harm you if you are in the hands of God?  Absolutely not.  Many like to make Satan equal to the Lord, but the devil will never be God’s equal.  God is God.  Satan is a fallen angel who, though powerful, has already been defeated, and therefore, is powerless against those of faith (John 16:33).

We must not let fear keep us from doing the good work and fulfilling our calling.  As Peter said, we must not be afraid of the threats of those who threaten harm, nor should we let them trouble our hearts.  Our God is more than able to shield and protect us!  So, let us who are of sincere faith continue to choose to live by God’s word, with grace in our hearts, being a living testimony for all to see.

Better to Suffer for Doing Good

This led Peter to say, “It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Pet. 3:17).”  Let me pose a question to you:  Wouldn’t you rather suffer if it would lead to a great reward than no reward at all?  

Solomon spent most of the Book of Ecclesiastes encouraging one to live for God rather than the world.  Solomon said it is vanity to spend your days under the sun, trying to grab a hold of treasure that will always slip through your fingers (Eccl. 2:14).

We must not deceive ourselves about the world we live in.  Life is incredibly difficult, and what makes it even more difficult is the idea of living to be rewarded by an unrewarding system.  Man’s system is not for everyone; it is for a small minority– one percent of the one percent.  

Many are miserable today, grinding and hustling for a little wealth that is here today and gone tomorrow.  I think of what Jesus said when He spoke about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field (Matt. 6:26,28-29).  Jesus said, “The birds neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns because God feeds them.”  Of the flowers, Jesus said they don’t have to do anything to be pretty; they’re pretty because God clothes them.

Life is more than the grind and hustle for earthly treasure (Matt. 6:25).  Earthly treasure is here today and will be gone tomorrow.  Even more, we cannot carry these earthly treasures with us beyond this physical world.  In other words, the earthly treasure won’t gain you entry into the kingdom of God.  

While we live in this world, we ought to be living for tomorrow.  Tomorrow is a day like no other.  In the new day to come, the Lord promised that there will be no more pain or sorrow as the former things will pass away (Rev. 21:4).  A new day will come forth and the Lord will wipe away all of our tears and we will dwell in His garden and eat from the tree of life and drink from the river of life (Rev. 22:1-2).

When we live for the new day, we can take on a mindset that is similar to Peter’s mindset.  Peter’s mindset was one that Paul also shared.  In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul spoke of how the affliction of today is light and only for a moment as they are working towards a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  

Now, some think it is odd for us to look at life in such a manner where are values aren’t for earthly riches.  Let us understand that there is a difference between valuing life in this world and valuing life in the day to come.

When we lay up our treasures in the kingdom of heaven, the world can no longer control us.  When we lay up our treasures in heaven, we can break free from a system whose rewards are only temporary.  

As Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3) … Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:10).  I’d much rather be called a fool and suffer the trials and tribulations of the world if heaven is my reward.  What about you?

Living for the Kingdom With Vigilance

With all these things in mind, Peter reminds us to be serious and live with vigilance on this battlefield because we have a great adversary on this battlefield (1 Pet. 4:7; 5:8).  

Peter likened the devil to a “roaring lion” that seeks whom he may devour.  The fact that Peter described Satan as a roaring lion ought to catch our attention.  The reason this should catch our attention is because Peter spoke of the devil seeking whom he may devour, as if he is on the hunt.

Now, the devil is on the hunt, but Peter described him hunting in a manner opposite to how lions hunt.  Lions, like most cats, are stealthy creatures.  They typically stay low to the ground, hiding themselves from their prey, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.  When the prey sees a lion, it is often too late for the prey because the lion has gotten close enough to strike.  

For Peter to say that the devil is like a roaring lion, Peter was saying that the devil doesn’t bother trying to hide the fact that he is hunting.  It is said that the male lion roars to show its power, claiming its territory.   The devil lets the world know that he is there and that we are on his hunting grounds.   

For this very reason, we, again, must be vigilant with great faith so as not to be consumed on this battlefield.  While looking after ourselves, Peter reminds us of our high calling that we are to also think of our neighbor.  From 1 Peter 4:8-11, Peter encourages us to be prayerful, showing grace for grace to all those who are around us.

When we live by the word and are prayerful, using our two offensive weapons on this battlefield, we will overcome.  Vigilance not only helps us to overcome as individuals, but it helps our neighbors to stand in victory as well.