REDEEMING the TIME

     For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the LORD.  Walk as children of light, (for the fruit of the SPIRIT is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the LORD. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

       But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  Therefore HE says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And CHRIST will give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly(carefully), 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 5:8 - 17

       We had a guest Missionary speaker at our church last night and he spoke on  " Redeeming the Time " and he gave this example of what this phrase really meant in Paul's day.  In our day, if we had a flea market and sales for the day had been slow, you look up and see a fleet of buses pulling off to the side of the road, you as one of the sellers would put everything you had out for sale, because you knew that this was probably the very best time for you to be able to sell your wares.  You would  " take advantage "  of the opportunity as it was presented to you.  The seller was " redeeming the time ", he was taking advantage of the opportunity that was given to him to sell his wares.

           We as Truly Born Again Believers, are to take advantage of the " time " and " opportunities " that the LORD gives us each day to be a witness. I, like you, seem to fall short of this goal, but I press on towards the mark.  Not looking behind, at my failures, but looking forward, asking JESUS to help me to do better. Satan likes to beat us up and to remind us that we aren't perfect.  But our LORD is perfect and in HIM I take my stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one, the accuser of the brethren.

           One of the things we are also to be is "light" to a dark and evil world. In CHRIST, we are light because in HIM there is no darkness at all.  We are to expose those unfruitful works of darkness, by our testimony. That is why it is  "so important" to keep our testimony as spotless as possible, not to let even a hint of sin be against us and tarnish our testimony and the blessed LORD.  I often think that GOD's children give the cause of CHRIST the biggest black eye because of their hypocrisy.  They speak a good sermon but live a life that would make a prostitute blush.  Exposing the works of darkness may have to start in our own back yards, as it were before we can have any impact on our neighbors, friends and families.

           Paul said in Colossians 4:5 & 6  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, " REDEEMING the TIME."  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.   Those who are "outside", are the public, unbelievers, co-workers, bank tellers, grocery clerks, cashiers, taxi cab drivers, anyone who we come in contact with or see on a daily basis. Those who are outside of CHRIST, the unsaved, unbelievers, lost.  The next time you want to blow off steam at someone for cutting you off on the highway, being extra slow in the check-out line, taking too long at the drive-thru window, STOP and look into their eyes and see them as lost forever in the lake of fire where the worm dies not nor are the flames quenched for all eternity, give them a tract and tell them to have a great day in the LORD.  REDEEM THE TIME, for the days are short !

         Now to those who may be reading this that are not saved, unbelievers. Let me tell you that as a sinner, I came to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST as my SAVIOR and so can you.  We have " all sinned and come short of the glory of GOD ".  John 3:36 says, " He who believes in the SON has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the SON shall not see life, but the wrath of GOD abides on him."   But GOD loves you and me and made a way for us to be with HIM where HE is, in heaven. Sin has separated us from GOD and HE sent the LORD JESUS CHRIST into the world to pay our sin debt, in full. Romans 5:8 says, "But GOD demonstrates HIS own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us."

           YOU right now can know the love and forgiveness of GOD. YOU right now can admit to the LORD that you know you are a sinner and that you can do nothing to save yourself from your sins. YOU right now can ask the LORD JESUS to forgive you of your sin and to come into your heart and save you. Romans 10:9 says, " that if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead (this shows that GOD the FATHER was satisfied with JESUS's sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sin), you will be saved."   So what are YOU waiting for, come to the LORD JESUS, without delay, for today is still the day of Salvation, tomorrow may be too late !!!

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie