Live Today in the Light of Tomorrow

Many people make life decisions based on age, societal pressure, or what others expect, without asking what God desires. This message calls believers, especially young adults to live intentionally, sow to the Spirit, and allow eternity to shape their present choices. Key Scriptures include Ephesians 5:15–17, Galatians 6:7–9, Colossians 3:1–4, and 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:13

How would you live today if you remained conscious of what awaits you tomorrow? Many people make decisions based on age, pressure, opportunity, or social expectations. Yet, God calls us to live differently, to allow his will, eternity, and future accountability to shape the way we live now. Good morning and welcome to this expression of igniting your day. Many people struggle with the discipline required to live life as it should be lived. Some depend heavily on others for direction, while others wish they could remain in controlled environments where rules, structures, and regulations determine their choices. For some, this struggle begins when they leave home to attend tertiary institutions before their maturity has developed enough to match the responsibilities, pressures, and challenges awaiting them outside the protection of their family environment. The Bible teaches that one of the ways we can live well today is to remain conscious of what lies ahead. Yet, many people live their present lives without considering the future. They have not learned how to allow the consciousness of tomorrow to shape the quality of their lives today. This can affect every area of life. Some people enter relationships simply because they believe they have reached the appropriate age. Some choose to marry because marriage is not possible for them. Others make major decisions because society expects those decisions for people within their age group. But we can live beyond the recommendations of our environment. We can live beyond what is popular for our age. We can live purposefully, we can live intentionally. That is the burden of today's message. Many people cannot explain why they live the way they do. They cannot identify what is shaping their decisions or determining the quality of lives. But the Lord expects us to live intentionally. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 15 to 17 says, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. There are certain things society wants you to do. There are things your friends, workplace, school, or environment may encourage you to do. This is why we must pray for our young people. That the Lord will reveal Himself to them and teach them how to live. One genuine encounter with Jesus can change everything. Jacob had an encounter with God, and his life never remained the same. Genesis chapter 32, verse 20, verse 24 to 28 makes this clear. And there wrestled a man with him until the day, until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint. And he wrestled with him, and he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob, and he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and thou hast prevailed. That encounter marked a turning point in Jacob's life. This is the value of an encounter. Many people will not become conscious of the way God expects them to live until they encounter Jesus personally. We may not know where or how that encounter will happen, but we have the responsibility to pray that it happens. Many people attend church, but not everyone can testify that they have encountered Jesus. Many hear the word, but not everyone reaches the point where their plans, priorities, and desires are surrendered to God. An encounter makes you recognize that you must live differently. An encounter awakens you to the fact that God expects more from your life. An encounter causes you to release your plans and embrace what God wants you to do. What an encounter does is change your life and your manner of living. It shapes your direction. It awakens your spiritual consciousness. It becomes the beginning of purposeful living. Therefore, let's pray for young people around us. Lord, let them encounter you. Through that encounter, bring them to the consciousness that there is a life you expect them to live. Let them know your will and understand your purpose for their lives. Yes. Why is this important, friends? Every way of living is a form of sowing. Let me say that again. Every way of living is a form of sowing. Living according to the will of God produces one kind of harvest, while living according to the flesh produces another. Galatians chapter 6, verse 7 to 9 says, Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, doth shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall reap, shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Friends, when you live the life God expects you to live, you are sowing to the spirit. When you live outside what God desires for you, you are sowing to the flesh. Scripture tells us clearly that the one who sows to the flesh will reap corruption, while the one who sows to the spirit will reap life everlasting. This is what gives meaning to the instruction not to grow weary in doing good. There will be a harvest, there is a consequence for sowing to the flesh, and there is a reward for sowing to the spirit. Consider the young people within your circle of influence. How many of them understand this? How many know that their daily decisions are seeds? How many have become conscious that their choices, habits, relationships, and priorities are producing a future harvest? Some have not yet begun to live intentionally, they do not understand that there is a quality of life God expects them to live. This is where our responsibility becomes personal. The Lord may send you to teach them, guide them, counsel them, and help them understand the will of God. We must pray that their teachers will not be hidden from them. Some leave home before their maturity can handle the world they are entering. They need helpers, people who will teach them the counsel of God for their lives. They should not enter relationships merely because they are old enough to do so. They should not marry merely because marriage is possible. They should not make permanent decisions simply because society has declared that it is time. They must live intentionally. They must know that there is a consequence for sowing to the flesh and a reward for sowing to the spirit. Colossians chapter 3, verse 1 to 4 says, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ seated on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. The emphasis is clear, friends. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. What does this mean? Evaluate your investments. This is not only about financial investments. No. Consider the things into which you are investing your effort, your energy, your attention, and time. Consider what receives your daily devotion. Do those things count towards eternity? Do they have eternal value? Can you continue living this way and expect to rejoice over the harvest in the life to come? This is a call to become intentional about how we live. Societal pressure is real. But when we stand before Christ, societal pressure will not be acceptable, will not be an acceptable explanation for how we lived. When our lives are assessed, we will not be able to place the blame on what was popular, what others expected, or what our environment encouraged us to do. The Lord is calling us to live intentionally. Yes, live intentionally. This brings us back to where the message began. Not many people know how to live today based on what they know is coming tomorrow. One of the things awaiting believers is the judgment seat of Christ. When you stand before Him, what will you say? What explanation will you give for the way you used your time, your strength, your opportunities, your gifts and influence. We must begin to live intentionally. We must live with a consciousness that there is a future assessment. This awareness is not meant to produce fear that paralyzes us, it is meant to awaken wisdom, responsibility, obedience, and purpose. Today should be lived in the light of tomorrow. Today should be lived in the light of tomorrow. According to Ephesians chapter 5, verse 17. May we live conscious of the Lord's will and expectations for us. May the Lord teach us to allow the consciousness of tomorrow to shape our lives and our manner of living today. In the name of Jesus. Thank you, friends, for being here on today's expression of ignoring your day. I am wishing you this morning an amazing, amazing day.