Francis Bourdillon, 1873

Never! That is a strong word. Yes, but it is a true word in this case. There is a day that has come once — but will never come again. That day is yesterday.

Other days, other times, other things — do in one sense come again, but yesterday never will. Sunday will probably come again, and Monday and Tuesday and every day of the week; a wet day will come again, a cloudy day, a sunshiny day; we shall probably see them all again in turn. But we shall never see yesterday again — it is gone forever.

We may bring other things back — but yesterday we cannot. We may take water from a river and carry it up to the place where that river gushes forth, a little stream from the hill-side, and pour it in to run its course afresh. We may turn the hour-glass and make the sand begin to run down again. But we cannot, and no power can, bring yesterday back. Whether it was merry or sad, a day of smiles or a day of tears, well-spent or ill-spent — it is gone, and gone forever.

Who does not know this? Who doubts or denies it? No one. But many forget it. And therefore, reader, I remind you of it. Yesterday will never come again. Now let your mind dwell on this fact. Think it over well. You will find there are solemn lessons to be learned from it. May the Holy Spirit impress them on your heart!

1. When you came into the world — you had only a certain number of days to live. You were not told how many, but God had measured out your life and settled how many days you should have — and when they are all gone, you will die.

Yesterday was one of those days, and it is gone and will never come back. Your life is one day shorter — and you are one day nearer to death. Now what do feel about this? Are you glad, or sorry? Are you glad, because you long for that rest which remains for the people of God — or sorry because you are not ready to die? Which is it? If the latter, then stop and think thus: If you do not change — then one day after another will pass away like yesterday, and leave you still not ready; not one will you ever be able to bring back again or stop as it flies; on and on your days will go — until the number is full and your last day comes, and you die. Will you not begin to prepare? Is it not high time?

2. What were you doing yesterday? How did you spend it — well or ill? Perhaps you idled it away — or even spent it in sin; and now, it may be, you are sorry and wish you had spent it otherwise. I hope you are. But whether sorry or not, you cannot have it back again — it is gone. The harm you did yesterday, is done; the good you might have done, is not done. You cannot do it now, for the time is past. You may indeed do good now — but this is today, not yesterday. Yesterday's good was not done, and never can be done now — for yesterday will never come again.

How earnest should this make you about today! Use it well. Guard against evil; be diligent in doing good. For tomorrow, if you live so long, today will have become yesterday — a day past and gone, a day that will never come again. Use today, while it is today.

3. Yesterday is past and gone — and will never come again. But, for all that, what you did and said and thought yesterday, is not forgotten. Again, then, I ask you, what were you doing yesterday? Think. Try to recollect. Does your mind fix upon anything wrong that you did? Were you about anything bad at any part of the day? Do you remember saying anything you ought not to have said — anything untrue or impure or unkind? And your thoughts — what were they? Good, or bad? Holy, or unholy? Now it may be that you have already forgotten most of yesterday's doings; you can think of only a few of the things that you did or said or thought yesterday, and you soon get tired of trying to remember, especially if it comes to your mind that you did wrong.

But does not God remember? Does He forget? Are not these things written in His book? Yesterday is gone indeed, and gone never to return — but gone where? Gone up before God, with all its sins, to be written in His book! Oh, what a solemn thought is this! And all your other days, have gone up like yesterday. You yourself forget them; you cannot remember the whole even of yesterday — how then can you call to mind the actions, thoughts, and words of all the days you have lived? It is impossible — those past days are now almost like a dream. Things that made a great impression at the time, have now faded away; many of the deepest thoughts and strongest feelings are totally forgotten, and your words have flown away like the wind.

Yes, but they are all written before God — all of your thoughts, words, and actions; He remembers every one. Week after week, month after month, year after year — all that you have ever done or thought or said, is written before Him.

4. I have called yesterday "a day that will never come again" — but is this quite true? Will yesterday indeed never come again? It is true in one sense, but not true in another. Yesterday will never return to be lived over again — but it will come again in another way. In that great day when the throne will be set and the books opened (Revelation 20:11-12) — then yesterday will come again, with all its actions, thoughts, and words, and will be brought to light before men and angels. All that is written down — will be brought forth then. All about yesterday and the day before, and every day of your life — it will all come out then, and you will have to answer for all before the Great Judge. In this sense yesterday will come again. Are you prepared to meet it? Are you ready to stand that trial?

5. Perhaps you say, "Well, I don't care if yesterday does not come again; I don't wish it to come again; there was little in it but toil and trouble." You may say so now. But if you are an unconverted person, with your heart not turned to God, and if you go on so and die in your sins — then the time will come when you would give worlds to have yesterday over again.

What would not the rich man in torment have given for one day (Luke 16:23)? Or those unhappy people mentioned by our Lord in the 13th chapter of the same gospel, and the 24th and following verses? Think of that scene: they did not strive to enter in while they might — and now it is too late. They stand outside, a great crowd, all eager to get in; but the door is shut! They knock at the door; they cry aloud as men in earnest cry, "Lord, Lord, open for us!" But there is no opening of the door, no sight or sound to encourage, nothing to lighten the black despair which is settling on their hearts; the only answer they get is a deathblow to the last poor hope they had: "I tell you, I do not know you! Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity."

Oh! What would they not give to have but one day over again? Yesterday the door was open; yesterday they were invited to come in; the very same voice that now says, "Depart!" — cried to them but yesterday, "Strive to enter in!" But they slighted the call, and now all is changed. Yesterday is gone, never to return. Yesterday's call, yesterday's mercy, yesterday's grace — all are gone. The door that was open yesterday, is now shut. The Savior is to them, a Savior no more.

Reader! If you go on as you are, impenitent and unchanged — it will be thus at last with you. If you do not now strive to enter in, you will one day stand in the crowd outside that shut door and knock and cry for admittance — but all in vain. Oh, what would you not give then, for yesterday to come once more? But the door will not be opened — yesterday will not come back; you will be too late.

Will you run this risk? Will you go on in a way that, as God's word is true — must end thus? You have not one word to say against this; you know that it is true, and yet will you go on? Warned, exhorted, entreated as you are — will you never care, never think, never pray, never strive — until you find yourself on that day outside the door, and the door forever shut?

6. Once more. Yesterday will never come again. It is gone with all its sins, all its neglected duties — gone forever; but gone to be written in God's book and to be brought forth at the great day of account! You cannot undo the faults of yesterday now; you cannot now do yesterday's work; you cannot hide what is written in the book about yesterday; you cannot help standing before the throne, when all will come out. Reader, this is your case!

But there is One to help you even in so great a need. Jesus, the Friend of sinners, is both able and willing to become your Friend here. There is no other help for you. Look to the right and to the left; look to yourself; look to your works; look to men; look to the dearest earthly friend you have. But you can find no help, no safety, no comfort. Yesterday's doings would be enough to ruin you — even if there were nothing else.

But Christ can supply all your need. Though you cannot undo yesterday's sins — yet He can take all their guilt away. Though you cannot hide what is written in the book — yet His blood can blot it all out. You must stand before the judgment seat, and the Judge will be Christ Himself — but if you now seek Him as your Savior and secure a saving interest in Him by faith — then you need not fear even that great and terrible day, for He who sits on the throne will be your Friend and Savior; you will be able to plead His merits for your justification. And when the books are opened, your name will be found written in another book — the book of life, and you will be admitted to be with Christ in glory forever!

That great day is coming quickly — it is one day nearer than it was yesterday. Are you yet without Christ? Are your sins of yesterday, and of your whole life — still in the books? And all the while, does the gracious Savior still invite you, and the Holy Spirit still strive with you? Alas! What are you waiting for? "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7). 

Yesterday is past — today is yours — tomorrow you may never see. Oh, do not neglect today — it is a day of grace, the accepted time. Do not lay up in store for yourself the bitter, bitter pain of looking back too late on today — this very day when you are reading these words — as a day of slighted grace and stifled impressions, a yesterday that will never come again.

Take one solemn word of Scripture in conclusion, and may the Holy Spirit write it on your heart! "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon!" (Isaiah 55:6-7).