Thinking on Carpe Diem!

"This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I strain forward "

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus”

(Philippians 3:13-14)

A few years ago the movie “Dead Poets Society” resurrected an obscure Latin phrase that most people had forgotten or never ever knew: Carpe Diem. It means 'Seize The Day!’ It's an exhortation to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of each individual day. No one wants their life to be mediocre; we want our lives to be full. Advertisers know about this basic human desire and build it into their slogans: "Who says you can't have it all?", "Just do it!" "Satisfy your thirst!", "Life is a journey, enjoy the ride!” and so on.

The Apostle Paul believed in this philosophy of life -- Carpe Diem -- and in Philippians 3 he puts it easily within our grasp by giving us some practical direction. He shows three simple steps to living a more fulfilling life as our lives unfold into a new year.

1. Find Your Purpose! Paul stated his reason for living, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing His sufferings, becoming like Him in death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead". (Philippians 3: 10-11) Simply put, Paul's reason for living was to be like Jesus.

2. Forget The Past! "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I strain forward ". (Philippians 3:13) What great counsel for a new year. Two elements of the past to forget: the bad and the good. We need to forget the bad because it's over and done with. We need to forget the good in this sense that we don't keep reliving the 'good old days'.

3. Face The Present & Future! “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 3:14)It's easy to relive the past and dream away the future, but it is always a challenge to face the present. In John 11 when Lazarus died, Martha spoke the classic phrase 'if only'. She knew Jesus had the power in the past, knew He would in the future, but wasn't too sure about today. Jesus said, "I AM the resurrection and the life". Past is gone, future is coming; Jesus is I AM present... now today. So, let us seize the moment, and seize the opportunities God has for us in 2021, one day at a time. Let’s live it and do it to the full --- Carpe Diem!!!