James 4:13-15

"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
James 4:13-15


The scriptures talk a lot about not focusing on the past... not returning to our former selves.  And here they talk about not focusing on the future. :)  So, really, we are only left with the present.  This can get a little scary if we think about it the way part of society does... living in the moment, only worrying about what happens now... forget about the consequences.  However, I think that God encourages a different view. :)  To me, this scripture is talking about control.  When we focus on the future, normally, we make plans... thinking that we control events, and that what we envision will take place.  And having hope and having goals are a good thing... but God is really in control of the future... not us.  Any plans we make without his involvement are doomed to failure, merely because we have a different view of the future, and God's view will always win, because he can make it reality.  Also, I think that whenever we focus ourselves in the future we don't give enough weight to the present.  We become procrastinators, thinking that we have plenty of time to accomplish whatever it is... and not doing the work today that will bring us nearer our goals.  Sometimes focusing on the future can overwhelm us, because we think about ALL the things that we need to do, rather than what we need to do today.  We focus on the daunting task of "enduring to the end" when, really, we just need to endure the afternoon.  Instead of repenting tomorrow, repent today.  Instead of being nicer tomorrow, try being nicer today.  When the scriptures talk about there being time no longer, the closest I can get to imagining it is an eternal day... that NOW is everything.  If we emulate our ideal selves now, then that is who we are... forever.  If we build a relationship now... then we have it, always.  If we repent right at this moment, then we are clean... forever.  Right now is what matters... not tomorrow, next week... not anything else but this moment, and who we are and who we are emulating right now.  We create reality by what we live today.  The scriptures say he that is happy now shall be happy in eternity... so today, right now, let's make the choices that will make us happy.  Find peace, give love... offer ourselves in service.  Now is everything.  Let's use it well. :)