Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
It is far too easy to waste this one life we have been given, Amen? We can constantly find ourselves frittering away our time. And time is precious because it is both unrepeatable and limited. We can always make more money but we cannot make more time. Time is a valuable gift and a terrible thing to waste. When we are born the clock starts ticking and when it is over it is over. No one can add a single minute to their life. And who knows how much time we have? Things undone at death are undone forever – at least by us. Scripture tells us to redeem the time - not to waste it – because the days are evil. Further, there is much to be done on our watch. God has wonderful plans for each one of us and He wants us to walk in them – and believe me we want that as well. We do not want to miss His best for our lives. Our understanding of God’s will and His ways are key here. And His Word holds the answers. It is our direction book – if you will – for all of life. God has not left us clueless. Indeed, He tells us through Moses in Deuteronomy 32:45-47 (NIV): “When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
God does not seek to hide His will for our lives from us. He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” Anything apart from God’s will for our lives will land us in captivity yet He came to set us free from all slavery – slavery to ourselves, to others and to things. We discover our freedom only in being yoked to Jesus. Paul warns us in Galatians 5:1 (NIV): “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
The loss of time is no small part of our enemy’s victory. And he is fully aware that if he can get us to waste our time we can easily find ourselves wasting our lives. And a life is a terrible thing to waste. The proper use of time is filled with eternal opportunities as we do everything as unto the Lord. Heaven and hell are the outcome of our warfare. We are to spend our time wisely.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”** Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)**