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Carpe Diem

By John Spurling

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Several years ago I found myself shopping at Wal-Mart very late on the evening before Christmas Eve. It was down to the final hours before Christmas, and I was frantically looking for those last-minute items. As I entered the toy department, I accidentally bumped into several people who were just standing in a line that had formed in the middle of an aisle. After waiting there a few minutes, I finally asked a lady, “Why are you standing in this line to nowhere?” She replied in a very quiet voice, almost a whisper, “A shipment just arrived and there are some Tickle Me Elmo dolls on the truck.”

As I slipped into the line just behind my new friend, I thought to myself, “What luck! I’ve been searching for this elusive must-have toy of the season for weeks! My children will be so happy on Christmas morning when they open the package and find the red muppet with tickling sensitivity.” I was mere moments away from my memorable holiday prize … or so I thought.

Ten minutes went by, then twenty. Word about the pending arrival spread like wildfire throughout the store, and the line quickly grew. Finally, after standing in line for well over an hour, just before one o’clock in the morning, a voice came over the loudspeaker, “We have no Tickle Me Elmos. Please go home.” That was it. No explanation … no apology … just, “Go home.” And so I did.

Have you ever had to wait for something yet didn’t quite know what you were waiting for or even when the waiting would end? Just imagine how the followers of Jesus felt as they waited for ten days isolated in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem after they had received instructions to stay together and wait for the promise given to them by the Lord. But then, ushered in with the sound of a rushing wind, the moment finally arrived and the Spirit of God descended on all who had gathered. Doctor Luke describes the scene in the second chapter of Acts: “Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a mighty wind filled the house where they were meeting” (Acts 2:1).

At that moment, finally, the promise was being fulfilled. Their waiting was over, and they were ready. Each of them experienced the power of God that day and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. What a grand scene! What an incredible day! But that isn’t the end of the story. We haven’t even reached the climax. It’s what happens next that provides us with a window into the heart of God. As much as we enjoy the manifestation of God’s power, the truth is, that such displays always have a deeper purpose attached to them. At that time, Jews from all parts of the known world had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. When they heard mere Galileans speaking in various foreign languages, they were astonished. As they pondered just exactly what it was they were witnessing, the apostle Peter seized the moment by standing and delivering a Spirit-anointed message that testified to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On that day, Peter recognized that God had prepared him for that moment, and he was ready (Proverbs 15:23). The results speak for themselves — over 3,000 people were saved!

In your life and mine, we may never experience the kind of euphoria that swirled around the Upper Room that day. However, we can bear witness to the power of God at work in our lives as God prepares us for divine opportunities to share His love and His Word with those who may be lost or confused by the complexities of life. Are you ready? These moments in time are more than mere coincidence. You need to make the most of every day. The Bible tells us “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Today, you have the opportunity to share God’s truth and His love. You may not stand before thousands of people and share a message, yet you are the message that others will read. God has prepared His work assignment for you. Seize today, walk in the quiet assurance that you’re on a mission from God, and be ready to impact a life for His glory!

The great thing is to be found at one’s post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years.

~ C.S. LEWIS

Memory Verse

For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:14 (NLT)