Carpe Diem comes from the Latin and means, “Enjoy, make use of, seize; with emphasis on making the most of current opportunities because life is short and time is fleeting.” (from Wikipedia & Webster’s). Popularly, Carpe Diem is translated, “Seize the day!”

This morning while reading through Acts, something caught my attention. In Acts 3:12, Peter is defending the miracle he and John have just witnessed in the name of Jesus Christ. The New Living Translation reads, “Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd…” As I read these eight words over and over, I thought of opportunities that I have missed in life. At the same time, I rejoiced at the thought of moments I took advantage of.

There are two key Greek words used for the English word time in the New Testament. The first is CHRONOS and means, “time measured by the clock.” It’s what we would call “quantity time.” It’s the ticking of the clock and the passing of minutes each hour. The other word isKAIROS and it means, “time measured by special moments.” It’s what we call “quality time.” Just as you cannot retrieve lost CHRONOS, neither can you retrieve KAIROS time. Once the moment passes, you’ve lost it forever. Some think they can plan KAIROS time, but unfortunately, that is a faulty premise. KAIROS moments happen in the context of CHRONOS.

Jerusalem missed the KAIROS of their visitation, and Jesus wept over the city and His people.

Paul warns us to walk circumspectly redeeming the KAIROS because the days are evil.

It is imperative the we both see and take advantage of the opportunities God places in front of us. After all, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. The Bible teaches that one plants and another waters, but it is God that gives the increase. Well, God can’t give an increase if nothing has been planted and watered. This is why Jesus instructed us to pray for laborers to work in the harvest. We shouldn’t be praying for a harvest - wake up - there is a harvest all around you: your coworkers, lost loved ones, neighbors, etc. all make up a vast harvest. What we need are laborers to work in the fields!

In John 4, Jesus explains to His disciples that He “needed” to pass through Samaria. Bear in mind that Jews and Samaritans do not get along. They love to hate each other. Yet, Jesus feels a need to pass directly through Samaria. Once there, He sends the disciples into the city to get lunch and He waits by the well. Along comes a woman of ill-repute who Jesus begins a conversation with. To cut to the chase - Jesus shares with this woman that He is the Messiah(she was the first person in Scripture that Jesus so plainly revealed Himself to). After speaking with her, she runs back into the city and tells everyone what has just happened. A few verses later, Jesus is talking with His disciples and they offer Him some food…

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. [33] Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? [34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. [35] Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:32-35 (KJV)

Multiple commentators believe that the Samaritans changed their garments, putting on white clothing, before coming to see this Jesus that the woman had met. Jesus was clearly not speaking about literal fields as in corn or wheat, He was plainly speaking about the planting He had just done with the woman at the well, and the harvest of that was those in white rainment coming out of the city to meet Him.

Now, imagine if Jesus would have had a bad hair day and decided NOT to take advantage of the opportunity afforded Him? Or, what if He would have NOT spoken with the woman when she came to well? Probably not much on the surface, until you go to Acts 8. It is in Acts 8 that Phillip goes to Samaria and preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Now, if Jesus had not stopped there three years earlier, then the Samaritans would have thrown Phillip out. But, because Jesus siezed the day, we read in Acts 8 that in EVERY village of the Samaritans, the Gospel was preached.

Are there any opportunities that God is placing before you?

Has He gently whispered to you a passion to go, do, or become something for Him?

Have you felt that holy urge to speak to your coworker and tell them about Jesus?

Don’t miss your opportunity…Carpe Diem!