Daily Devotionals
Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mary Ann)
He Holds Our Tomorrows
Another week, another passing of a friend from high school. With age, this comes as no real shock, usually a somber nod of the head and some reminiscing. But last week it also led to a discussion with friends about what happens after a Believer has died.
There, I said it. Died. We’ve come up with lots of ways to say it differently – passed away, departed, deceased, at rest, no longer with us, etc. – maybe to soften death’s jarring finality. No, we don’t like to talk much about death, even though we know it will come. But oh, we love to talk about that next split second – heaven.
Theologians disagree on what exactly will happen in the first second of eternity and forever, and I won’t take a side. I just know it’s going to be beyond anyone’s wildest speculation and will be indescribably – what’s the word? There is no word. So let’s just say glorious.
Now, when I wake up too early to get up, I turn on the radio to put me back to sleep. Let me just say, God is not subtle, because at 4:00 a.m. one day last week, this old treasure of a hymn was playing and boom! I had this devotional half written:
“I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future ….”
Whoa there, Nelly, put down that hymnal! I worry plenty about the future here on earth and suspect I’m not alone. It’s getting nuts out there. Strange. Scary. Decidedly evil.
But then the last lines of that verse and the third verse talk about this side of eternity and the protection and assurance of God’s protection no matter what may come:
“I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.”
“I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.”
Now if I like those verses, I absolutely love the refrain because it covers the here and now plus all the tomorrows of eternity:
“Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.”
Which brings another hymn comes to mind:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in his blood.”
Here’s the bottom line, precious Sisters: I don’t know how many tomorrows I have on this side of eternity; neither do you. So I implore you, if you don’t know for absolute certainty who holds your hand, please get that blessed assurance by putting your trust in Jesus, the lover of your soul.
If you want someone to talk to – or to pray with – remember that the women of Rachel’s Closet Cares are eagerly available with open ears and loving hearts.
Blessings
Mary Ann
Another week, another passing of a friend from high school. With age, this comes as no real shock, usually a somber nod of the head and some reminiscing. But last week it also led to a discussion with friends about what happens after a Believer has died.
There, I said it. Died. We’ve come up with lots of ways to say it differently – passed away, departed, deceased, at rest, no longer with us, etc. – maybe to soften death’s jarring finality. No, we don’t like to talk much about death, even though we know it will come. But oh, we love to talk about that next split second – heaven.
Theologians disagree on what exactly will happen in the first second of eternity and forever, and I won’t take a side. I just know it’s going to be beyond anyone’s wildest speculation and will be indescribably – what’s the word? There is no word. So let’s just say glorious.
Now, when I wake up too early to get up, I turn on the radio to put me back to sleep. Let me just say, God is not subtle, because at 4:00 a.m. one day last week, this old treasure of a hymn was playing and boom! I had this devotional half written:
“I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future ….”
Whoa there, Nelly, put down that hymnal! I worry plenty about the future here on earth and suspect I’m not alone. It’s getting nuts out there. Strange. Scary. Decidedly evil.
But then the last lines of that verse and the third verse talk about this side of eternity and the protection and assurance of God’s protection no matter what may come:
“I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.”
“I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.”
Now if I like those verses, I absolutely love the refrain because it covers the here and now plus all the tomorrows of eternity:
“Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.”
Which brings another hymn comes to mind:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in his blood.”
Here’s the bottom line, precious Sisters: I don’t know how many tomorrows I have on this side of eternity; neither do you. So I implore you, if you don’t know for absolute certainty who holds your hand, please get that blessed assurance by putting your trust in Jesus, the lover of your soul.
If you want someone to talk to – or to pray with – remember that the women of Rachel’s Closet Cares are eagerly available with open ears and loving hearts.
Blessings
Mary Ann
