Don’t Presume You’ll Have Tomorrow

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15 NIV

In a story published Sunday by the Fox 11 News, it was reported that the Fox Cities Marathon was canceled due to weather. 

But the celebration of runner Henry Reuden’s milestone, they said, still went on. 

Many community members gathered here this morning, despite the cancelations, at UW Oshkosh Fox Cities Campus, to celebrate Henry’s *almost* 2,000th marathon. "There are only 2 others in the U.S. that have done 2,000," Henry says… Henry is signed up for the Jailbreak Marathon in Wautoma next weekend, where he will cross the finish line for the 2,000th time. Let’s just hope the celebration wasn’t premature. After all, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and neither is another finish line crossing. 

And you know, the Bible warns us about being presumptious when it reminds us that each one of our lives is like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. Which is the very reason that we should say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that,” rather than “This is what I will do today, tomorrow, next weekend, or any other time.” By doing so we are acknowledging that God is in control and we aren’t. This keeps us humble and mindful that we have a Creator who is in charge of all things, and we are not. 

So resist the urge to say you will do this or that today or tomorrow, my friend. Ask the Lord to direct your steps instead and then follow where He leads. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that you are in control of everything. Help us to not assume that we will have the next minute, the next hour, or the next day, but to humble ourselves under You and to be thankful for each day and each moment we are given. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!