Seize The Day / Strike While The Iron Is Hot

There is an adage ... that you may still hear at times even today: .... "Strike ... while the iron is hot".

The saying is basically telling us .... that when the time is right... you should act... you should seize the moment ... or you will miss out ... on your opportunity.

The adage is taken from a blacksmith ... working a piece of iron ... into shape.

That piece of iron ... must be struck with a hammer ...while the iron ... is red-hot.

If you wait too long, .... the iron will cool .... and you will be unable ... to seize the moment ... to shape the metal.

So, ... when those moments arrive in our lives ... we must strike ... while the iron is hot.

We must seize the moment ... and strike. (Pause)

I was at dinner one night with my parents ... and an elderly couple, the Carr's, .... came over to the table.

As they approached my younger brother and I immediately stood up, ... our mother had taught us well ... over the years.

Now Heidi Carr ... who never had a problem speaking her mind ... sternly grabbed my arm ... as she approached the table.

She said .... "Jeff ... I hear your dating one of the Gartman girls."

"Yes," I replied ... "Lee and I have been dating for some time."

Well ... Do you like her ... "Yes, I replied I like her a lot."

She pulled my face closer to hers ... "Now Jeff you listen to me" .... "Strike while the Iron is hot." (Repeat)

As Paul Harvey would say: ... The rest of the Story ...Lee and I have been married for 41 years ... and have been blessed with two children ... and five grandchildren.

I heeded Heidi Carr's words to ... Strike while the iron is hot. (Long Pause)

Now ... Salespeople especially understand what it means to ... "Strike while the iron is Hot"

I was reading an article written by Pat Zaby, .... a nationally known Real Estate speaker.

He stated, ... " One weekend, I told a friend that I was thinking of buying a convertible...."

So, ... the first thing Monday morning ... I logged into the Internet web site CarPoint.com.

I picked out a car I liked, .... the color, .... the interior ... and all of the accessories.

Within moments, ... CarPoint gave me the sticker price ... as well as ... the dealer invoice.

Later that same morning, ... I received a call... the voice said: .... "This is Owen Evans with Autobahn Motor Cars in Ft. Worth, ... and we have your auto,".

"WHAT?" ... I responded.

The salesman reminded me ... that I had been on the Internet earlier ... and had been looking for ... a particular car.

I said, "Yes, ... but I wasn't serious about buying."

"That's OK... we have the model and color of car that you requested ... and wondered i... f you would like to see it?"

I told him ... that his dealership was in Ft. Worth, ...and I was in Dallas .... maybe I will come over sometime later this week.

"You don't understand," he said. ... "I'll drive it right over to your office ... and you can see it ... right now".

I am sure you know what happened.

I'm the proud owner of a Carnival Red convertible.

I was sending out buying signals ... and this sales professional ... "struck while the iron was hot." (Pause)

Beloved ... We hear of this also ... in the Scriptures.

In the Gospel of John, ... we are told that at the "Pool of Bethesda" " the sick, ... blind, ... lame, and paralyzed, ... were waiting for the moving of the water.

An angel was sent down at a certain time ... into the pool ... and stirred up the water; ... then whoever stepped in first, .... after the stirring ... of the water, .... was made whole".

They had to make their move ... while the angel was there... The had to seize the moment ... They had to strike ... while the iron was hot. (John 5:1-9)

In Marks Gospel we read of another encounter: Hear Gods Word: BIBLE "And again He (Jesus) ... entered Capernaum ... after some days, ... and it was heard ... that He was in the house. ... Immediately many gathered, ... so that there was no longer room ... to receive them, ... not even near the door. ... And He preached the word ... to them" END (Mark 2:1-12)

That's when the scriptures tell us ...4 friends ... brought the paralyzed man ... and lowered him through the roof, .... into the presence of Jesus... They had to act ... while Jesus was there.