The letters TNT are usually associated with a dangerous explosive. Most recognize that TNT is not something you want to play around with. What many fail to recognize, however, is that there is another far more dangerous and destructive form of TNT.

T.N.T can stand for, “Today Not Tomorrow”. Tomorrow is on every calendar. Each day plans are made and tasks put off until tomorrow. There is a sense of security in idea of tomorrow, but the Bible reveals that this is false. James said, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:13-14).  God never promised us tomorrow. Tomorrow is a possibility but not a certainty.

C.S. Lewis said, “The present is the point at which time touches eternity.” Or as the Bible states, “today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). One cannot go back in time, nor can they move forward in it. Today is the only opportunity when we can make things right with God. As one has said, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

One of the saddest passages in the Bible is Acts 24:24,25, “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Felix was betting everything on tomorrow. This is a very risky bet because tomorrow only exists on the calendar. It has not yet been created. David reminds us that today “is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118: 24).

Today is a day of rejoicing for those who make the most of it. God offers grace (Titus 2:11). He offers salvation (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16) but you must act Today. Playing with tomorrow is too dangerous.


- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)

A father came seeking Jesus. He heard of His power to heal and brought his son who was plagued with an evil spirit. However, when he arrived he did not find Jesus, only his disciples who could not help. When Jesus finally appears, the father’s disappointment is seen in his words, “if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” The word “if” speaks of uncertainty. The faith that had led him there is now clouded with doubt, but Jesus responds with hope, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” In other words, with faith all things are possible. “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:23-24).

Jesus reveals that this desperate situation was brought on by the disciple’s lack of faith. Matthew records why the disciples failed, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20). Their inability to cast out the demon was because “this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28–29). The mention of prayer and fasting is another indictment against the disciple’s faith. Jesus is so disappointed in them that He cried out, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?” (Mark 9:19). His disciples did not have the faith they ought to have had. Faith and prayer go hand in hand. It has been said, “One cannot exist without the other.” Faith needs to be exercised daily by prayer and other such works, without them it is dead (James 2:17,20).

The father in this account acknowledged the doubt that was attacking his faith. He cried out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24). Let us continually look to Jesus, not doubting the power of God (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus looked to this worried father and said, “Bring him to Me” (Mark 9:19). The emphasis here is on Jesus. He does not disappoint! Luke, in a parallel passage, adds “and they were all amazed at the majesty of God” (Luke 9:43).

- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)

1 Kings chapter 13 contains an interesting account concerning an unnamed man of God. This man was faithful to God in many ways: he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord (13:2), he performed what God had commissioned (13:3), he stood up against King Jeroboam (13:4), and he did not heed the invitation of the king (13:8). At first glance this man was a hero of his time, yet in the end he is attacked by a lion and found lying dead in a ditch. What led to this man’s downfall? The answer is simple: He believed a false prophet! (13:18-19). In this ancient story there are a couple of important lessons for Christians today.

 One preaching the truth will never contradict what God has already said. In this text an old prophet claims an angel had instructed him to minister to the man of God. Even though this conflicted with God’s original instructions (13:21) the man of God gave into the older prophet’s words.  This old prophet is a good example of one Jesus would call a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-16). These wolves still prowl around today, therefore Christians must always strive to go back to the Bible, God’s original instruction. Paul instructed the Galatians, “…even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8-9). Even though the man of God was deceived (the prophet had flat out lied to him) he was still held accountable for his actions. We have instructions from God and like the man of God in the story; we too are accountable unto God.


Always strive to wholly follow God. We must remember that partial obedience is disobedience. The man of God is to be praised for his good start; however, a good start doesn’t mean anything if you do not finish the race. The Lord has said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). The promise is to those who persevere! Caleb is an example of a man of God who finished strong. It is said of him, he “wholly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:8; Deut. 1:36; Num. 32:12). Faithful men and women will seek to finish the race. We must not obey what is convenient or popular, but seek to wholly follow God.


- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)

Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). The word “example” is translated from the Greek word “tupos”, meaning a die or stamp (Strong’s). A good stamp replicates itself exactly. In like manner, Timothy was to be a model for others to imitate (c.f. Galatians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 11:1). This exhortation meant not only for Timothy, but for all Christians. Every person in Christ is must shine as an example for others to follow. 

We have received a beautiful gift from our loving Benefactor (James 1:17, Romans 6:23). We must not to hide our example from the world. We are to shine our lights before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)