Redeem the Time

Early one morning, right before I woke up, I had a dream. Now I’m not usually given to any kind of meaningful dreams but this one I knew was different. In this dream I remember frantically trying to adjust my eyes to try to see what time it was from the clock on my nightstand. In this dream I held the clock close to my eyes and also tried to read my watch but I just could not see the time…so frustrating.

Later that morning as I was pouring my coffee and pondering that frustrating dream, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. I was reminded of the scripture in Ephesians regarding “…redeeming the time…” I sensed the question, “Do you know what time it is?” I remember feeling a sense of urgency that morning as I kept reflecting on that phrase, “redeeming the time.”
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Ephesians 5:15-16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Another translation says it this way. “Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

You may be thinking, ‘there have always been evil days,’ and you are correct, but our responsibility is to be the light in the midst of our evil days. We must, once again, embrace the challenge and responsibility of passionately proclaiming the message of salvation and hope in this tumultuous time in our history.
When the founding fathers of the United States of America made their historic decision to sign The Declaration of Independence in 1776, they pledged: “[Their] lives, [their] fortunes, and [their] sacred honor.” Someone once said, “Beliefs deeply held turn into commitments fiercely defended.” That’s truth!

I may get discouraged when I observe the condition of this world, but I am not hopeless. Each of us, day to day, must make the most of our time here on earth. You may be asking; ‘can we really change or influence anything?’ My response is a resounding, yes!

One great missionary said, “If you fill a swamp with stones, a hundred loads may disappear under the water before a stone appears on the surface…but all of the stones were necessary.”
We all have different responsibilities and opportunities but every prayer and action count and we ARE making a difference… even if it is one stone at a time.

Redeem the time, because the days are evil.