You do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44
Check out this little quote:
“We’re not going to mess with the old-time, turn-the-other-cheek religious postures…our religious posture is: Don’t mess with us. You can get killed dead, literally dead…these are real threats…I am quite willing to break some lawyer’s legs, and next break his wife’s legs, and threaten to cut their child’s arm off. That is the end of that lawyer. That is a very satisfactory, humane way of transmitting information.” — Charles Dederich, 1977, in defense of his Alcoholics Anonymous-like, cultish, self-help program called, Syanon.
Dederich was also the guy who was said to have coined the phrase “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Suddenly, I’m not so fond of the expression; it seems tainted and flawed.
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. 2 Timothy 2:14-17
It’s not my intent to bring us down a legalistic rabbit trail, but rather to suggest that maybe we should be more careful as to where we choose to be feed. Maybe it’s worth our while to consider the source. Maybe these catchy 
little phrases that we pick up in worldly venues, are not as clever, wise, and valuable as they seem to be. The reality is that just from digging briefly into Dederich’s background, I discovered this is not someone I or any Christian should be gleaning from. His seemingly innocuous remark could in fact lead one astray, if not for some divine exegesis. The more I pondered Dederich’s little motto, the more I realized it could actually oppose God’s dictates, if misapplied. Perhaps it would be more beneficial to view today as the “Last day of the rest of your life, especially in light of what God has to say on the matter.
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7
But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
We are being instructed to live each day as if it were our last, earth-bound day. This is not a somber, gloomy perception, but a joyous one. It’s posi-directional, serving to propel us forward along the narrow way. The wisdom reminds us of our God-orchestrated, less-self, mission for our lives — it’s not about us, it’s about Him. Living each day in this manner blesses Him and blessed us. This focus brings us both joy and purpose. Yes, our God is the God of redemption and new beginnings, but if this is the first day of the rest of our lives, what shall we do with it, our Lord would ask. Are we not a peculiar people, who are taught, that as we awake to each new day, we are to die again?
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Live today for God, and as if, it were the last day of your life.
These articles may or may not be related:
- Today’s Verse for 01/08/2013 (jesusmyjoy.wordpress.com)
- Today’s Prayer – No Fear of God (mychristiancoffeeshop.wordpress.com)
- If Water Can Wear Down A Stone (mymorningmeditations.com)
- Grace (woundedbirdnomore.wordpress.com)
- New Year’s Resolve: Day 11! (1singlefocus.wordpress.com)
- Daily Prayer for January 8th (hopeforthebrokenhearted.wordpress.com)
- Preparing For Your Calling “Emptying and Filling” (ptl2010.com)
- Berean Perspective Podcast – Happy New Year Rejoice in the Lord (rootedinchrist.org)
- Christianity: America’s New False Religion? (compassiondave.wordpress.com)
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He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 