This morning as I looked at the dawn slowly creeping up in the garden. I realised that it was going to be a colourful display and that I had a very short window of opportunity to get a picture. Frantically trying to find the camera and then trying to find the card to go into the camera ate away at minutes. Eventually I was able to take a few pictures of the suns dazzling colours just before the yellow rays of the sunrise leaked over the horizon. Deep crimson red.
One of my favourite actors died last year, Robin Williams. I absolutely loved his film “The Dead Poet Society”. The phrase “Carpe Diem” is something I try to remind myself of frequently.
There is a window of opportunity for everyone. Some have a short window and others longer windows, and the pain is that we do not know how long our journey will be. I see the two trees either side of this picture and it reminds me of the promise of God that in his great city there will be two sets of trees on either side of the immense crystal river in Revelation 22:2 as I have mentioned previously.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
Paul was talking about when he escaped arrest by being lowered out through a window, obviously by friends and supporters. We have to trust that God has it all planned out and not to worry, for that is a huge killer of faith. We must be confident and like Paul boast in our weakness so we can bring others to God. A huge army surrounding a city trying to arrest Paul might have subdued the bravest of hearts but Paul saw a way out and took it, he grasped the opportunity. The small window of opportunity that he had – literally.
The news report about the 21 Christians, our brothers in the faith, were murdered on video, and this has sickened most who have heard and seen the report. But the 21 each accepted their fate and called out with strength to our Lord Jesus on their moment of death. How I wish I would have this courage. Relatives of the murdered later rang into a live show and prayed for the members of isis that performed such action, that they find heart to seek out Jesus and they thanked them for leaving the video to record the 21 calling out to Jesus. This event has done nothing but further the Kingdom and transmit the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Seizing the day, grasping this opportunity can not be about ourselves and getting the most out of life for us, but it must be about giving the glory back to the eternal being that created us. So if that phrase Carpe Diem was to be used we could add “Carpe Diem Quoniam Jesus” or Seize the day for Jesus.
Please, I pray.
Dear Father, when we read these reports let us not be embarrassed to talk and preach about how glorious you are, and how you can save everyone through your Son Jesus.
Dear Father, I pray that I am not be ashamed of your Son, our saviour, for He suffered for all, even the ones that were condemning him under the cross.
I pray that we arise from the things that waste our time, that stop us communicating with others, that create barriers between the ones we love and grasp the life that we are given today or tonight and make the most of it.
I pray we take this window of opportunity and reach out now, this minute in love, and tell everyone about Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.
Amen
with blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 