Carpe Diem Por Jesu!
”First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
–Romans 1:8-15
In the classic drama film Dead Poets’ Society, Robin Williams plays a high-spirited English professor at an otherwise stodgy university who inspires his students to greater heights of living and learning. On his first day in class, Williams’ character John Keating uses a Latin motto as the theme of his teaching style and motivation: Carpe Diem or “Seize the Day!” It becomes the driving theme of the film and has spawned numerous implications in the social consciousness.
I would like to update this popular motto for believers. Carpe diem pro Jesu! Seize the day for Jesus!
If anyone knew the reality of carpe diem, it was the Apostle Paul. Instead of a short-sighted humanistic approach to living, Paul understood the truth of what life is all about—living unto God and for His glory in every way. The man is on a mission, always working and moving. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he is getting it done! He established churches, disciples young Christians, endures intense persecution, preaches from prisons, praying and writing continuously. He’s surviving shipwrecks, tailoring tents, mapping out his missionary travels, and overall keeping the fires of obedience lit. He would not rust out or burn out because he did it for Christ. In his life and teaching, Paul defies the common curse of complacent Christianity. In the words of Lewis Allen, “Complacency is the devil’s word.” Stagnant spiritual living is impossible when you submit yourself to Christ. We must tend the fire because fire is so prone to go out.
There are a few key attitudes that I think gives us a hint into Paul’s motivation:
First, enthusiasm drives Paul. He is thankful for the global propagation of the Gospel through the efforts of fellow churches. He was thankful for what God had done for the Roman Christians and he was thankful for what God was doing with the Roman Christians. It takes awareness to see beyond the bad news and to live in praise for what God is doing in our world. If you think on His blessings, enthusiasm and excitement for His work will follow. Enthusiasm for Christ is contagious! This is a work that we share and give to our family and friends.
Second, engagement defined Paul’s life. Paul was “all in.” There was nothing left on the field when Paul was done. He was in the moment because he was thinking of eternity. He wanted to show his love for God in big ways. When you think of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who do you think of first? I almost guarantee it’s John Hancock. People forget that the writing and submission of the Declaration was a huge danger for the original founding fathers because it was a divorce writ against Great Britain and almost certainly a death warrant. John Hancock refused to be quiet about his support—he signed his name in big, bold letters so it could not be missed. We should be shameless in our desire to engage the world for Jesus!
Third, encouragement was a driving factor for Paul’s connection with the brethren. Paul was eager to get to where his beloved church family was and he prayed for them continuously. In every interaction we have with our Christian community, we have a decision for construction or destruction. We can be a force of good or ill and it all stems from our attitudes. It’s hard to talk bad about someone you’re praying for. When you want to see someone be blessed, oftentimes you receive blessings. Our greatest motive for being with our church family should be that we are glorifying the grace of God by being gracious to them.
Finally, effort was spent to serve and carry out Paul’s commission. Paul uses the word “obligation.” This has the idea of debt that must be paid. In 1916, a man stood in a church service and testified, “I was converted to Christ while floating in the Atlantic Ocean after surviving the sinking of the Titanic.” How in the world did this man come to Christ in the midst of this terrible tragedy? He went on, “The tide brought a man near to me who asked, “Man, are you saved?’ I answered, ‘I am not.’ He responded, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!’ And the tide carried him away again. Soon, however, he floated near me and I heard him shout, ‘Man are you saved yet?’ I shouted, ‘No! I am not a believer.’ He cried with water lapping around him, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved!’ And then the waters carried him under and with two miles of ocean around me and no one left near me, I believed on Jesus Christ. I am John Harper’s last convert.” You and I who are saved owe the world the Gospel and we must not conceal or ignore it in our efforts to bring lost men to Jesus.
Carpe diem pro Jesu—Seize this and every day for Jesus!
SDG