If Tomorrow Never Comes
Reid Tait
Midland SDA Church
November 17, 2012
Opening Song #21 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Responsive Reading 787 Christianity in Practice
Closing Song 565 For the Beauty of the Earth
Children’s Story Luke 17:11-19
1 Peter 1:22 NIV “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
Living Bible “Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts.”
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. John 13:35, R.S.V.
“Sometimes late at night I lie wake and watch her sleeping. She’s lost in peaceful dreams. So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark and the thought crosses my mind.”
Let’s pray!
If I never wake up in the morning, would she ever doubt the way I feel about her in my heart.
If Tomorrow Never Comes:
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she is my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me.
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never come
‘Cause I’ve lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them.
Now I live with the regret
That my true feeling for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance where theirs no second chance to tell how I feel
So tell that someone that you love
Just what you’re thinking of
If tomorrow never comes.
This week you and I and our families will be making our way to someone’s home or they will be coming to yours to celebrate Thanksgiving and this will be followed by Christmas. Let these joyous times be opportunities to let our friends and relatives know how much they mean to us for tomorrow may not come, nor another Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Betty Kossick, in her Adventist Review article, “Tell someone today, ‘I love you’” “The day after his death, I took my pen and wrote a poem about my love for him—too late. She writes, “My friend’s sudden death, violent and unexpected, shocked everyone who knew him. He was a gentle man, ever giving of himself. I loved him, but I never told him. (She is talking about brother and sister love in the church) She continues, “The day before his death, he visited my husband and me. He was a deacon, and the young couples of the church seemed to be his special love outreach. During the visit he shared a personal heart ache. He must have needed to hear, “:I love you.” But I was mute. The day after his death, I took my pen and wrote a poem about my love for him—too late. I felt broken because of my neglect. However, as the mythical phonix rose out of the ashes, so writing as I did in that anguished time prepared me to love more completely. I made a vow to God, never to let “I love you” go unsaid to anyone I appreciate. I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me into a deeper love experience with others.”
“Almost immediately I felt impressed to write love letter. I began that day. Frequently, I found myself waking in the hushed hours of night to write to a certain person. These letters turned into an adventure with the Lord. I discovered these “I love yous” were arriving exactly at the time the person needed encouragement! It was like finding a treasure chest full of love’s precious stones.”
Betty, discovered that these “I love you” letters helped others and also helped her. It also helped her to say “I love you” verbally. “The person with whom love is shared responds in kind.” “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. John 13:35, R.S.V.
Ardith is the best example that I know who will say verbally at the end of a telephone conversation “I love you” man or women. She practices John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciple, if you have love for one another.”
E. G. White wrote in the book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing. P. 23 “A word of sympathy, an act of kindness, would lift burdens that rest heavily upon weary shoulders. And every word or deed or unselfish kindness is an expression of the love of Christ for lost humanity.” A sincere “I love you friend” to someone inside and outside the family may change a life forever. Even someone who is upset can be changed. Betty’s neighbor was plagued with insecurities and found it difficult to respond socially. As she was lamenting, I blurted out. ‘Carolyn, I love you.’ The momentary silence left Betty numb, but then came a warm response—“I love you, too.” From that day Betty and Carolyn grew closer.
Well! What is all this about? It is about people who Jesus loves while His church family doesn’t seem to know there are people to visit, people who are missing, people who need our love our sympathy, an act of kindness, a simple how are you doing, and a I love you and care. There are more than 50 of our brothers and sisters need our “Reach out and touch someone” or an I love you. Will you reach out, will you search for someone to say or write “I love you” or I missed you.
Betty, remembered a love letter she wrote to a cashier at a local supermarket. Evia (the cashier) had a ready smile and kindness. Each week, Betty writes, “as I bought groceries, I felt she was giving me a gift as she rang up my purchases. She certainly took the edge off having to pay the bill. After receiving my letter, she said with tear-filled eyes: ‘you gave me so much confidence. I’ve been asked to take on some new responsibilities and I didn’t think I could do it. Now I think I might be able to.’ A year later she was advanced to assistant manager.”
Is there someone here who would like to tell of how words of encouragement or an I love you or I care that has helped or encouraged someone or encouraged you?
Betty Kossick closes her article with: “As I think of my friend whose death developed the magnitude of “I love yous” in my life, I think of another Friend who died before I could express my love for Him. But since I found that His death was caused by my sins and that I will have everlasting love through His everlasting life, I have told Him daily, “I love You, Jesus.” Do you—Do I
“Have you told someone ‘I love you ‘today?” Ibid
“Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’ (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.” The Desire of Ages, p. 641
“To tell someone outside your family “I love you” may be a new experience for you—as it may be those with in your family! But it is a delightful thing to do for them, for Jesus, and for yourself. It forms a circle of Christian love.” Ibid
“There is not a moment of any day in anyone’s life that these words (I love you) cannot but give encouragement. And who knows—they may bring about a new and better course for both the one who offers them and the one who hears.” Ibid
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart
Jesus, I love you—Church Family “I love you”
May it be said of each of us the words that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 3:9 “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” and in verses 12-13 “ May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
“Sometimes late at night I lie wake and watch her sleeping. She’s lost in peaceful dreams. So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark and the thought crosses my mind.” If I never wake up in the morning, would she ever doubt the way I feel about her in my heart.
If Tomorrow Never Comes: