Can You Be Faithful Tomorrow?

The story "A Man For All Seasons" is supposedly based upon the
life of Sir Thomas Moore. He refused to bend to King Henry VIII's
wishes and agree that the King had a right to divorce his wife and
marry another woman. The King valued Sir Thomas's counsel and knew
him to be the wisest man at both common and "canon" or "church"
law. If Sir Thomas would not agree, then there would be division.
Even when all the King's other counselors, adviser's and priests
meekly agreed with the King, he would not rest until Sir Thomas
would agree.  Sir Thomas would not, and he was beheaded.

As the story is told, one young man, Sir Richard, is being
tempted by Oliver Cromwell to bear false witness against Sir
Thomas so that they might try Sir Thomas and kill him. Richard
is weak, but has some principle. He asks Sir Thomas to employ
him, believing that if employed, he would have the strength to
resist Cromwell. Sir Thomas questions Richard on where he's been
(with Cromwell). Richard hesitates and does not reveal the truth.
Sir Thomas knows where he's been. Richard then pleads with Sir
Thomas, "Employ me sir, for I will be Faithful to you!" Sir
Thomas responds, "Why Richard, if you could not be faithful
today, what makes you think you will be tomorrow?"  Richard
goes to work for Cromwell. His false testimony leads to Sir
Thomas being condemned.

The same question is asked of each generation. Too often we
think that we can give in to temptation today and make amends
tomorrow. Like Richard, we have some principle in that we know
certain things are wrong. However, instead of doing the right
thing, we look for others to provide for us. We think God will
give us time and opportunity to make things right tomorrow.
God does not promise the time or the opportunity: "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." (James 4:13,14) Through God's
inspired servant we learn that there is no guarantee for life
or opportunity. We may live to be 99 or may die in our teens.
Examples abound even in our lifetime, of those who die very old
and all too young. The only guarantee we have is that obedience
to the Gospel will save our souls. Faith to God today is the
only remedy for the temptations of the world. If we are faithful
today, we build strength to help us tomorrow, and the next day,
and the next.

"Why, if you cannot be faithful today, what makes you think
you will be tomorrow?"   [JW]