Seize The Day, Twenty-Four Seven

A young soldier ....and his commanding officer... boarded a train.

The only available seats.... were directly across from ... a very attractive young women .... who was traveling ...with her elderly ... grandmother.

As they engaged in pleasant conversation, ...the soldier and the young woman ... kept eyeing one another, ... the attraction ... was obviously mutual.

Suddenly... the train went into a tunnel .... And the car became ...pitch black.

Immediately ...two sounds were heard ... the "smack" of a kiss, .... Followed by the "whack" ...of a slap ...across the face.

The grandmother thought ... "I can't believe he kissed my granddaughter .... but I'm glad she gave him ... A slap.... That he deserved." (Pause)

The commanding officer thought, .... "I don't blame the boy for kissing girl, ... but it's a shame ... that she missed his face... and hit me instead."

The young girl thought, ... "I'm glad he kissed me, ... but I wish my grandmother... hadn't slapped him ... for doing it."

As the train broke into the sunlight ... the soldier could not wipe the smile.... off his face.

He had just seized the opportunity .... to kiss a pretty girl ...and slap his commanding officer.

(Slow) Now, ... that young soldier ...knew how to seize an opportunity.

He knew how to ... Seize the Day! (Pause)

Beloved ... Much In the same way .... we too must take advantage.... of every opportunity ... that comes our way ... to seize the day.

Unfortunately, .... Often ... we get.... so, caught up in the details ... of day to day living ... that we just do not seem to have the time ...or make the time... to seize the day.

We have deadlines and commitments, .... problems, and priorities, ... distractions and obstacles.

And though ...we really want greater fulfillment in life....... it just seems...... to be just outside ... of our grasp.

No one ... wants life ...to be ......just average.

By nature, ... we want our lives ....to be full.... Full and prosperous.

Paul shares these words with the Believers gathered in Ephesus ....and to us ... this day:

BIBLE "15 Look carefully then ... how you walk, ... not as unwise ... but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, ...because the days are evil. 17 Therefore ... do not be foolish, ...but understand ... what the will of the Lord is." END Ephesians 5:15-17

We have been given a mission.... and that mission ... could easily be "code named": ...... 24/7!

We are to be reflections of Jesus ....... 24/7

We are to shine His light ... the light of The Gospel ...... 24/7

Our lives ...are to be a testimony...... to His light within us. ...24/7

Throughout history, ......God has shown himself ... in and through relationship ... relationship ...with His people.

And ...In the incarnation, ...God became... more than words.

The Word himself ... Jesus Christ... The Word made Flesh ... entered this world. (John 1:14)

And Jesus ... The Word made flesh ... gave His disciples ... and us today ... both power ......and a vision.

In a way it is a picture ... A picture to help us live this glorious life .... 24/7.

Jesus could have simply given His disciples power from on high ... yet He spent ...three years ... ... doing what ... "disciplining" them.

Modeling ... the life... that He intended them... to live.

Jesus actions ... were the example.

Jesus ...is the picture ... for us to model.

Many have rejected the church ......because of the actions ...of those ... who claim ...to be followers ...of this Jesus.

It is.... Very sad... very painful .... but true.

Much of the world... is not interested in Christianity ...rejects Christianity ...because far too many ......who call themselves Christians ......are not known as ......a people who live ... what they say.

Hear me on this ......Until we move beyond superficial faith, .... we will not experience .... Supernatural... living. REPEAT (Pause)

What picture does Jesus give us... as we look at his life?

As we listen to...... his words?

Beloved ... Jesus loved ...the unlovable.

Jesus forgave ...the unforgivable.

Jesus reached out ...to the untouchable. REPEAT (Long Pause)

Across the street ...from the bombed out Federal Building... in Oklahoma City, .... where 168 people died... there stands.... a memorial.

And At the heart of that memorial... is a nine-foot statue ...of Jesus.

A statue of Jesus ... with his face in his hands, ... turned slightly away ... from where the acts of terror took place, ...and the plaque simply reads, ... "And Jesus Wept." (Pause)

How do you picture Jesus...... in your life?

How do you picture... in your heart ... all that Jesus ......has done for you?