24/7
A young soldier and his commanding officer boarded a train together.
The only available seats were across from an attractive young women who was traveling with her elderly grandmother.
As they engaged in pleasant conversation, the soldier and the young woman kept eying one another, the attraction was obviously mutual.
Suddenly the train went into a tunnel and the car became pitch dark.
Immediately two sounds were heard: the “smack” of a kiss, then 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 he deserved.”
The commanding officer thought, “I don’t blame the boy for kissing girl, but it’s a shame 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 and he had gotten away with both!
That young soldier knew how to seize an opportunity!

In the same way, we must take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way to seize the day.
So often we get caught up in the details of day to day living that we just do not 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 it just seems to be outside of our grasp.
By nature, we want our lives to be full and prosperous.
Paul shares these words with the Believers gathered in Ephesus and to us this day:
“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 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 Christ 24/7!
We are to shine His light of The Good News 24/7!
Our lives are to be a testimony to His light in us 24/7!
We are Christ followers.
We are not, Christ fans.
Fans sit on the sidelines, followers get into and are active on the field of play. It is time to get off the sideline. It is time to Seize the Day, Twenty-four Seven!