Why You Can (And Should) Seize the Day

Carpe diem: Seize the day.

Recently, I watched the movie Dead Poets Society and it left that phrase, Carpe Diem, bouncing around in my mind.

The saying challenged me to rethink how I live, because generally, I don’t seize the day. It seemed like something I should be doing. Something that would better my life and increase my impact on the world.

But I wasn’t exactly sure how to seize the day, or whether it truly was something I should strive to do. As I pondered more, I realized that it is something that we all should be doing, especially as Christians.

Why?

YOU HAVE A PURPOSE

Merriam-Webster defines “seize the day” as, “to do the things one wants to do when there is the chance instead of waiting for a later time.” Living life with this in mind often results in you sporadically doing things you want, just because you want to.

But we have the opportunity to do something greater than just the things we want or randomly come up with on the spot. We have been given a purpose and a call much bigger than ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:31 tells us, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Our lives have but one purpose: to give God glory. This purpose is your reason to seize the day.

We give God glory when we are completely satisfied in him, instead of constantly looking to the things of this world to fill our heart’s longings. Being satisfied in him also means living for him, instead of ourselves.

Rather than just seizing the day for the sake of it, we can be backed by a greater purpose. So, let me propose an alternate definition to “seize the day”: “to do things to the glory of God when there is the chance instead of waiting for a later time”

YOU HAVE A FUTURE

Another movie I watched recently was Big Fish. In the movie, one of the main characters is shown how he will die. As a result of this, he decides to take risks and live recklessly, knowing that the things he does can’t kill him since he knows what will.

Our lives would certainly look different if we knew how we were going to die. You could go skydiving without a parachute, cliff jump every day, trudge fearlessly into battle, or go swimming with sharks!

While we don’t know how we’re going to die, as Christians we know something that should be just as life-changing. We know that when we die, we will go to Heaven.

Though we were sinners, Christ died for us, saving us from an eternity in hell. We are called to share this good news with our lost world.

So, although I wouldn’t suggest jumping off any buildings, I urge you to share and live out the Gospel recklessly. No amount of shame, or persecution, or ridicule can ever change the truth that you will spend eternity in Heaven. We can preach the gospel without fear, even of death.

Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Not only that, but this life is only a fraction of forever. The things of this world are passing away. This is captured beautifully in a poem by Charles Studd, which repeats “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” You can live your life fearlessly for the gospel, because this life is only a vapor, compared to heaven.

Don’t waste your life by seizing the day for things that don’t matter to eternity.

Again, let me redefine “seize the day”: “to do things to the glory of God when there is the chance to do them instead of waiting for a later time because your future is secure.”

YOU HAVE A HELPER

So, tomorrow morning, you wake up and remember: seize the day! Dragging yourself out of bed, you grit your teeth and get at it. You’re going to live today for the glory of God, in light of eternity.

It’s not as easy as you hoped. You spend the morning, desperately trying to decide what fits under those categories. By lunch, your exhausted brain has forgotten all about seizing the day.

I have something to tell you. You don’t have to seize the day alone.

John 14:26 tells us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

The Holy Spirit gives us words when we have none,  courage when we are scared to live differently,  perseverance when we struggle to love unconditionally, and strength as we do hard things.

God sent us the Holy Spirit, to be our helper. We don’t have to live this life alone.

Here is our final definition for “seize the day”: “to do things with the help of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God when there is the chance to do them instead of waiting for a later time because your future is secure.”

Ok, it’s a little clunky now, but it is backed with purpose and certainty.

So, Rebelutionary, I challenge you to go out and seize the day.

Know that you have a purpose to glorify God. Do so fearlessly, because your future is secure. Finally, always look to the help of the Holy Spirit, instead of trying to seize the day alone.

What are you waiting for? Go out and carpe diem!