[Biblemat] S) OUR TOMORROW FOR YOUR TODAY

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

OUR TOMORROW FOR YOUR TODAY

     On a wooden cross which marked the grave of Lance Cor-
poral John Hannon, who died in Burma in WWII, were these
words: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your
tomorrow we gave our today."  This generation is free but
many do not know why they are free or the cost of their free-
dom.

     The Declaration Of Independence Ratified With Blood: -- Of the fifty-six 
who signed the Declaration of Independence,
five were captured and killed by the British as traitors, nine
died as a result of hardships or wounds sustained in the war,
two had their sons captured by the British, two had sons who
died in the army, others lost their fortunes.

     Christopher J. O'Sullivan, who died in Vietnam, wrote:
"Long years ago our forefathers fought.  Let not their gallant
battles go for naught.  The left a heritage, a land that was free.  Remember 
and preserve that liberty."  History tells us
tht freedom is not free.  We must be dedicated to freedom if
freedom is to be preserved.  William Ellery of Rhode Island
spoke of this dedication when he said, concerning his fellow
Signers of the Declaration: "I was determined to see how they
all looked as they signed what might be their death warrants."

     What Would They Say?: -- On December 7, 1941 I preach-
ed in Turlock, California, I had lunch with Everett Evans" fath-
er, mother and sisters.  The radio brought the news that Pearl
Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese.  That night as I
rode the bus back to San Francisco, we pulled off the road a
number of times.  The lights were turned off in the cities.  For
all we knew, Japanese submarines were lurking off shore.
Out of these events came the song, "When the Lights Go On
Again All Over the World."  The war ended and the lights went
on.  What would they find, those who gave their tomorrow for
our today,  if they could come back and see what the light re-
vealed?  Of course, they would find those who are grateful
and who try to preserve liberty and other blessings for their
generation and for coming generations.  On the other hand,
they would find those who squander their freedom through
sinful and senseless pursuits.  They use for evil their today
for which others died.  They also would find those who, as
Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote: "We are stealing form our grand-
children in order to satisfy our desires of today."  We are be-
queathing to them a debt which we have not the slightest in-
tention of paying.

     We must not subvert the moral and spiritual foundations
on which our country was built.  George Washington, in his
Farewell Address, said these were the twin pillars of our sys-
tem and that one was not a true patrior who subverted either.
Furthermore, he said it was doubtful if morality would long
prevail without religion.

     Let us not be of a generation which can be characterized
by the young person who said, "Mother, remember that antiq-
ue vase whcih has been handed down from generation to gen-
eration in our family?"  "Yes, dear, what about it?" the mother
replied.  The answer came back,  "This generation dropped it."

     For Our Children's Tomorrow: -- Every parent worthy of 
the designation "parent" gives their today and tomorrow for
their children's today and tomorrow.  In a measure they lay
down their lives for the physical and spiritual welfare of their
children.  Let me say to children, we have a lot invested in you.  For our 
sake, but mostly for your sake, do no squander
the physical and spiritual heritage which is being passed on
to you, your today and your tomorrow.

     Everyone gets his or her today.  We may damage or even
destroy our tomorrow by our misuse of today.  On the altar of 
passions, whims, and other manifestations of selfishness, we
may sacrifice a thousand of our tomorrows for the pleasures
of a fleeting today.

     We can use our todays so as to build better and more use-
ful tomorrows.  Count the cost before you pursue an evil cour-
se of conduct.  The old saying is still true: "Illusion is brief, re-
pentance is long.  The pleasure is momentary, but the conse-
quences can be long-lasting."

     His Tomorrow Given For Us: -- Even though we have
squandered many todays and soiled many tomorrows, there
is hope for us since Christ on the cross giave His today for 
our today and our eternal tomorrow.  Peter said that Christ in
"His Own Self bore our sins in His body upon the tree that 
having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye 
were healed.  for ye were going astray like
sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop
of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:24,25).  He became poor that we might become rich (2 
Cor. 8:9).

     The first teachers of the gospel knew they were putting
their life on the line when they preached the resurrected and
reigning Christ in the very city in which He had been condem-
ned and led away to be crucified.  It was also dangerous to
preach the gospel elsewhere.

     Congregations exist today because someone sacrificed,
and they will exist tomorrow as faithful congregations only if
today's generation is willing to sacrifice and serve.

     Giving Our Today And Saving Our Today And Tomorrow:--
By utilizing our time and opportunities today we save today
and prepare for a better tomorrow -- if not here -- in eternity.
Through serving god and humanity we serve our best inter-
ests.  We do not all serve in the same way, for the Lord has
many different kinds of servants with reference to their talen-
ts and places where they can render their greatest contribut-
ion to the cause of Christ.

     Through faith we can do this.  "By faith Moses, when he
was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's dau-
ghter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people
of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; accoun-
ting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.  By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for
he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:24-27).

     Our sacrifices of our todays, and our sufferings "of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed to us-ward" (Rom. 8:18).  When the
eternal morning has despelled the vapor of earthly life, we
should know, by participation, the glories of this eternal to-
morrow for which we gave our eathly days (Jas. 4:14).  ------
James D. Bales, via, Gospel Light, Jan. 2004, via The Sower,
Vol. 50, No. 4, July/August, 2005.
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