Tonight in Sunday school we were discussing Hebrews 11 and the first part of 12. This is what's often called the "Hall of Faith," because it describes a bunch of amazing acts done by ordinary people who God used to do extraordinary things. He did this because they were willing. When their moment(s) came, they seized the day.

We had a really interesting discussion about all of this. Our teacher, Allen, was making the point that our lives are not supposed to be about sitting on the sidelines watching others make all the plays on the field. We are supposed to be on the field ourselves, fully engaged in the game. He was encouraging us to put aside complacency and mediocrity and just living life to get from one day to the next.

He asked us why we think so often we're content to sit in the stands and watch. I think there are a lot of reasons for this. For one, I think our Enemy has done a bang-up job of convincing millions of Christians over the years that all we can do is try to follow the rules, go to church as often as possible, pray when we can, read the Bible every now and then and expect our great reward once we die. As long as he has been able to keep us busy with our lives and feeling like we don't really have time for any great acts of faith, he doesn't have to worry about us too much.

But every now and then some of us do decide to jump on the field and play. And it's in that moment when we decide to leave the stands that Satan sits up and takes notice. And suddenly it's like a scene out of a movie where the guy sees the girl from a great distance away, and as he tries to make his way through the crowds to get to her, the multitudes grow thicker and thicker with each step he takes. Obstacles come out of nowhere in an attempt to build the suspense. Will he make it before she leaves or will he miss her and lose her forever?

This is kind of how I feel right now. I feel like I've been learning so much about God and what kind of potential there is for relationship, and whenever we make forward progress, life starts getting crazy busy and out of control and I suddenly realize I've gone two or three days without being in the Word at all. It's incredibly frustrating. But there's no condemnation in that - you just pick back up and jump in the game.

There was some discussion tonight about concern that life is not all about parting the Red Sea and big power moments. There is truth in that, and I understand the points that were being made. We are supposed to take advantage of the every day moments and random conversations. I totally agree with that. But how often do we actually do it?

I was at the Target Starbucks a couple of weeks ago and the lady behind the counter just kept talking and talking to me about mostly nothing. I was not in the mood to talk. I gave short answers and just kept thinking, "How long can it take to make a white mocha?" As I walked back into the store, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I had just completely wasted an opportunity to share the love of Christ. Completely blown it. Why? Because I wasn't in the game. I was totally self-absorbed with my own agenda and issues.

And I think that this is really the point. Being in the game means that you are always available for God to use at any given moment. It may not be anything earth-shattering. But it could be a conversation that changes someone's life. The point is that when the opportunity arises, you don't miss it.

And in order to not miss it, we have to be abiding in Him. We have to be keeping that line of communication open with God so that when He speaks, we hear. We may not be the person that saves the world. But what if one conversation we have with someone is the answer to their prayer. What if that person decides to follow Christ and in turn becomes the next Billy Graham? We have no idea what God has in mind for us - so we have to let Him show us.

The person I find most interesting in Hebrews 11 is Rahab. Here we do not have a woman of extraordinary morality. She was a prostitute living in Jericho at a specific point in time where God needed someone on the inside to fulfill an important role in His plan. She was faced with a moment of crisis. Do I help the people of this God I've heard so much about and who I'm convinced is real and able to do exactly what these guys are saying, or do I not? She could have turned those spies in. She had no reason not to. But she acted on faith and believed in a God that up until that point she hadn't known. And she was rewarded not only with her life being spared and that of her household, but she became the mother of Boaz, the great-grandfather of one King David, an ancestor to Christ, the Messiah.

What if she had chosen differently? Would God's plan for the Israelites to take Jericho have failed? Of course not. He just would have used someone else, and the blessings would have been theirs. God doesn't have to use me. I am not vital to his plans. He will accomplish what He wants to with or without me. But I shudder at the thought of missing His blessings over my life. How many have I missed so far?

So it all comes back to what we do every day with the time we have on this planet. Are we setting our minds on things that are eternal? Are we using our time for Kingdom work? Or are we sitting on the sidelines with our snacks, hoping that our team comes out okay? We have the opportunity to be on the field. Why would we want to do anything else?

The truth is that our reward is not supposed to be saved up for when we die.

God told Abram, "I am your shield, your very great reward."

Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Our time is now. Carpe Diem.