NEVER PUT OFF TOMORROW, WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

by Charles Robey
(Trussville AL)

Hebrews 3:7-19

There is an old proverb which states, "seith that ‘the goodnesse that thou mayst do this day, do it, and abide nat ne delaye it nat til to-morwe". In other words, "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

PROCRASTINATION A NO-NO

Have you ever played the old "Procrastination" game? Well, I must admit, I'm guilty as charged. However, the word procrastination, is not in God's vocabulary. So, it is very important, that we follow Gods plan for our life, as procrastination in spiritual matters can be disastrous.

For he says, "At the right time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is really the "right time"! Now is the "day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN

We all are destine to spend eternity somewhere. And our final destination is based on whether we accept or reject God, through His Son Jesus. The apostle Paul tells us to put off the old man (generic term for the human race) with his deeds, and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of who created him".

How can the old man be recognized? And, what are the characteristics, or deeds, of the old man? The Apostle Paul breaks these down in Colossians 3:8-9 as follows:

"But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all" (Colossians 3:8-11).

How does changing from the old man to the new man fit the before mentioned proverb? Simply put, we should live today for God, as mankind has never been assured of tomorrow. As the old cliché states, "today is the first day of the rest of your life". So, start living your life for God, while you still have today. In the book of James we read:,

"Yet, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes". (James 4:14)

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN

Then, in direct contrast to the Old Man, the Apostle Paul reveals the characters of the New Man, in Colossians 3:12, by saying;

Therefore the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

So, how can this old man be transformed into the new man. Ever since the fall of man, in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been a slave of sin. And only by a regeneration with God, through God's Son Jesus Christ, can one be transferred from the old, to the new man. Simply stated, mankind must trust God's Grace, by complete faith, minus nothing plus nothing. The Apostle Paul tell us in the book of Ephesians,

"For, by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God; and not as a result of works, that no one should boast of works." ( Ephesians 2:8-9)

Remember, It's amazing what a coat of paint can do to an old dreary room. Out with the old and in with the new. It's equally as amazing what God can do with a broken life. Out with the old man and in with the new man.

GETTING STARTED

Now, how may we continue to have harmony with God, once we have been transformed from the old man to the new man This is a simply process but it requires strict dedication to Gods principles, as found in Colossians 3: 13-17.

However, we must never forget God's principles, for our daily walk with Him, and become ," So heavenly minded, that we are no earthy good". Whatever the tasks may be, as we go about our daily activity, should be dedicated to God.

Whether it is washing dishes, cleaning house, caring for an elderly parent, car pooling the neighborhood school children, or helping our co-workers at the office, each task is for God's glory. The Apostle Paul tells us,

"whether, then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God' (1 Corinthians 10:31).

So, let's not put off until tomorrow, what God wishes us do today, that of being about our Father (God's) business.

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:27,2)