Recently I received a letter from a lady who had a unique problem. She said that in just a few weeks she was going to attend her 10-year class reunion. Her husband, who had attended the same school, had bought the tickets months ago and was really looking forward to seeing his old school buddies. Each day he would talk about the reunion. He was excited.
His wife, however, was not so excited about the reunion. Instead, she was filled with dread. Let me quote from her letter. “My husband is expecting a good time at the class reunion. He probably will have a good time. He was popular and still looks good. I, however, have put on twenty-five pounds. My hair has gray in it and I look terrible. I’ve tried fixing myself up, but nothing seems to work. Every day takes me one day closer to the humiliation. From the time I wake up till the time I go to bed, I can’t think of anything else. Is there any hope?”
In another letter, a man writing from prison said that he was so filled with the guilt of his past that he couldn’t think about anything else. He said each day was filled with the thoughts of the past.
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Recently I received a letter from a lady who had a unique problem. She said that in just a few weeks she was going to attend her 10-year class reunion. Her husband, who had attended the same school, had bought the tickets months ago and was really looking forward to seeing his old school buddies. Each day he would talk about the reunion. He was excited.
His wife, however, was not so excited about the reunion. Instead, she was filled with dread. Let me quote from her letter. “My husband is expecting a good time at the class reunion. He probably will have a good time. He was popular and still looks good. I, however, have put on twenty-five pounds. My hair has gray in it and I look terrible. I’ve tried fixing myself up, but nothing seems to work. Every day takes me one day closer to the humiliation. From the time I wake up till the time I go to bed, I can’t think of anything else. Is there any hope?”
In another letter, a man writing from prison said that he was so filled with the guilt of his past that he couldn’t think about anything else. He said each day was filled with the thoughts of the past.
These two people have different problems but have the same root cause. They have fallen into one of the traps of Satan. If Satan can get us to bring the guilt of yesterday up into today and cause us to bring the fear and anticipation of tomorrow back to the present time, then today will be so full of our past and our future that today we will have no time to do what God wants us to do at this moment in time.
In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” On the surface that doesn’t sound like a faith statement, but this one statement alone can change your life.
Jesus simply said that we should take care of the business of today, today. Yesterday is gone. It’s like toothpaste that has been squeezed out of the tube. It’s spent. Nothing will bring it back. Guilt and grief today will not bring yesterday back. It’s gone.
Likewise, tomorrow isn’t here yet so nothing you can do today will make tomorrow get here today. God set time into motion and it is still moving at the same pace it did on the day of creation. No slower, no faster. Nothing you can do will speed it up or slow it down.
So my message today is the same message Jesus gave us 2,000 years ago. Do what God has for you to do today, today. Leave yesterday in the past. If someone hurt you yesterday, then forgive them today and when tomorrow becomes today, your calendar will be clear. It’s that simple.
Do not worry about tomorrow. Most things worried about today never take place tomorrow anyway. They’re just an illusion, a fear of the unknown. But that’s the way Satan works. After all, he is the deceiver. Jesus said in John 8:44 that Satan is a liar – always has been, always will be.
Remember these two truths: you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13), and this is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).
The theme of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 is learning how to live for the Kingdom of God today and learning how to live without the guilt of the past or the fear of the future.
Living by faith, not by guilt, is God’s plan.
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.