"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but
as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what
the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17
One of the most precious gifts God has given mankind is---
time. A major characteristic of time is that you will
never have more of it than you have right now. With each
breath you take, you are that much closer to taking your
last breath. We all reach a point in life where we realize
that we've lived more life than we have left. The older
we become the more careful we are of what and with whom we
spend our time on. We begin to realize that we truly do
not have time to waste!
Some of you may look over your shoulder at your past and
smile with satisfaction at how you used the time that you've
given, while others may reflect on their past and wish that
they had the ability to do some things all over again. However,
what is done is done. We must do the best we can with the time
we have left.
What do you do when you now have the wisdom to do a thing
right, but you don't have the time to do it all over again?
What do you do when opportunities, like water, have slipped
through your fingers and the doors that were open are now shut?
You may be asking: "Is there any way to regain what I've lost
over the years?" The truth is, you will never be able to
reclaim the time lost - but you may be able to "redeem" the
time you have left!
The Bible instructs us to "redeem the time". If we are
instructed to redeem the time, the next question that must be
asked is: "How do we go about redeeming our time?" The answer
actually lies within the word redeem. The word redeem in the
Greek is "Exagorazo". It is a compound word made up of the
preposition "ek" which means "to come out of" or "from", and
the verb "Agorazo" which means "to put to work in the
marketplace". The marketplace is simply a system of exchange.
The way to redeem your time is to exchange the system in which
you are investing your time.
Many Believers, although born again by faith, still operate by
a system dominated by the flesh. Anything that is not logical
or probable they shy away from because they fear not being in
control of the situation. They are operating under a system
of works, which can only pay them a wage, which correspondingly
controls their worth. This is the reason a person can work
hard all their life and discover that the time they spent
working was wasted because it could not give them what they
earnestly desire - freedom and fulfillment.
God's system, or the Kingdom of God, is one of redemption that
is founded on faith. Our productivity and worth is not based
on our abilities or efforts, but our faith and obedience to
God's Word. Everything we receive in this system is a gift.
Jesus said, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all things will be added onto us
(Matthew 6:33). God does what we can't do by our believing
(in faith) that He can do it!
In the Bible, Abraham tried to have a son, under the system
of flesh (or his own abilities and efforts) for almost 100
years without success. God gave Him in a moment, by faith,
what he could not produce by his flesh over a lifetime. God
redeemed Abraham's time because Abraham switched systems. He
received by faith what he could not produce by in his flesh.
Like Abraham, God has allowed some of you to live long enough
to know that your system doesn't work. God can fix in a moment
what has been broken for years. It all depends on the system
that you are investing your time and efforts in. It's not to
late! Switch today and redeem your time!
as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what
the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17
One of the most precious gifts God has given mankind is---
time. A major characteristic of time is that you will
never have more of it than you have right now. With each
breath you take, you are that much closer to taking your
last breath. We all reach a point in life where we realize
that we've lived more life than we have left. The older
we become the more careful we are of what and with whom we
spend our time on. We begin to realize that we truly do
not have time to waste!
Some of you may look over your shoulder at your past and
smile with satisfaction at how you used the time that you've
given, while others may reflect on their past and wish that
they had the ability to do some things all over again. However,
what is done is done. We must do the best we can with the time
we have left.
What do you do when you now have the wisdom to do a thing
right, but you don't have the time to do it all over again?
What do you do when opportunities, like water, have slipped
through your fingers and the doors that were open are now shut?
You may be asking: "Is there any way to regain what I've lost
over the years?" The truth is, you will never be able to
reclaim the time lost - but you may be able to "redeem" the
time you have left!
The Bible instructs us to "redeem the time". If we are
instructed to redeem the time, the next question that must be
asked is: "How do we go about redeeming our time?" The answer
actually lies within the word redeem. The word redeem in the
Greek is "Exagorazo". It is a compound word made up of the
preposition "ek" which means "to come out of" or "from", and
the verb "Agorazo" which means "to put to work in the
marketplace". The marketplace is simply a system of exchange.
The way to redeem your time is to exchange the system in which
you are investing your time.
Many Believers, although born again by faith, still operate by
a system dominated by the flesh. Anything that is not logical
or probable they shy away from because they fear not being in
control of the situation. They are operating under a system
of works, which can only pay them a wage, which correspondingly
controls their worth. This is the reason a person can work
hard all their life and discover that the time they spent
working was wasted because it could not give them what they
earnestly desire - freedom and fulfillment.
God's system, or the Kingdom of God, is one of redemption that
is founded on faith. Our productivity and worth is not based
on our abilities or efforts, but our faith and obedience to
God's Word. Everything we receive in this system is a gift.
Jesus said, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all things will be added onto us
(Matthew 6:33). God does what we can't do by our believing
(in faith) that He can do it!
In the Bible, Abraham tried to have a son, under the system
of flesh (or his own abilities and efforts) for almost 100
years without success. God gave Him in a moment, by faith,
what he could not produce by his flesh over a lifetime. God
redeemed Abraham's time because Abraham switched systems. He
received by faith what he could not produce by in his flesh.
Like Abraham, God has allowed some of you to live long enough
to know that your system doesn't work. God can fix in a moment
what has been broken for years. It all depends on the system
that you are investing your time and efforts in. It's not to
late! Switch today and redeem your time!
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