Do You Have Enough Time?

Ephesians 5:14-18

Message No. 0658 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

One of the strongest natural forces that man’s technology and wisdom have remained unable to prevent is time. It does not matter what you do, time continues to run. Sleep, wake, move, standstill, or even die, time does not care that you exist. Many singers have sung the line “Time waits for no one,” and yeah, nothing can be truer.

The only man in history known to have arrested time was Joshua. In chapter 10 verses 1 – 15, five kings fought against Joshua, and he asked the sun and the moon to stand still. The Bible says that this happened for about a full day, meaning that Joshua actually stopped time from running for 24 hours. The Bible also says that God had not listened to man like that before Joshua and has not done it again since then.

Do you think you have enough time here on earth? In Ephesians chapter 5 verses 15 – 18, Paul advised the Ephesians:

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. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit

The phrase ‘Redeeming the time’ suggests that we can buy back time or take it back with some credit, but since we know that time continues moving irrespective of what we do, what is Paul really saying here? Because the days are evil, we need to live each day as though it’s the last. We need to use our time wisely and concentrate on things that are of great value. We need to not waste our time on things that will perish here on this earth but to spend it wisely on things that will last forever in Heaven.

As we live in a world where distractions have multiplied and do continue to increase, Paul is asking us to be careful, lest we get nothing done and, in the end, meet our savior empty handed. The big question is, how are we spending our time? Are we carried away by the overwhelming influence of social media, TV shows, social functions and other activities that make 24 hours fly by in a flash? If we take stock of each day or each week, or month, or year, how much time can we say we spend doing God’s work or even paying attention to His prompts to do something?

At the start of each year, businesses and other organizations create plans of what they will do during the year and how they will harness resources to achieve their goals. Some individuals also do the same. If we are people who do this, how much time do we set aside to do God’s work. The importance of working for God cannot be overemphasized. In John chapter 9 verse 4, Jesus told His disciples:

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

No one waits until the age of retirement before they start looking for paid employment. If we agree that a time is coming when we will no longer have the energy to do the work of God, then the right time to do it is now. In Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 1, the Bible says to remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say I have no pleasure in them.

If you have not been doing anything for God since you became born again, now is the right time to hop on the bus and begin to get something done while you still have the energy. Don’t know what to do? Start by preaching the gospel to unbelievers and ask your pastor how you may be of service in your local church. Whatever you do for God here carries eternal rewards and trust me, you don’t want to be left behind.

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 If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!