“Redeeming the Time” (Ephesians 5:16)
Christians are to walk in light while the world is in darkness. We are to rise from the sleep of death in which the world slumbers, coming to life and receiving the light of Christ shining upon us; and it’s in this context that Apostle Paul said, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Redeeming or “buying time”; a like expression is used in the prophecy of Daniel which we render and gain time. It denotes a careful and diligent use of it, an improvement of it to the best advantage; and shows that it is valuable and precious; it is not to be trifled with, and squandered away; be lost, as it may be; for it can neither be recalled nor prolonged. Taking it for an opportunity of doing good for ourselves or others. It signifies that no opportunity of discharging our duty to God and man of attending on the word and ordinances of the Gospel; and to the private and public exercises of religion, of gaining advantage to our own souls. Or else, gaining the souls of others and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men should be neglected. But, even all risks should used as a stroke of luck in, “time”, or “redeeming”. The Apostle explained about redemption of time for the days are evil; as such are, in which iniquity abounds, wickedness, heresies prevalence and are days of affliction or persecution. (Daniel 2:8, Genesis 47:9 )
The days are evil is as the world is corrupt. There is so much in this world that is dedicated to false visions, to darkness, to sin, to keeping us in the sleep of death and obliviousness. So Saint Paul preaches about wisdom and “redeeming the time.” We redeem the time when we make use of our time back from the world; there was then; there is now. We are given time as greatest gift in this world. That is, of course, God is the gift that we all should desire the most, but while we have time to change.
Saint Paul says, “Wherefore be not unwise but understanding what the will of God is; do not be drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” He doesn’t explain how to do these deeds yet. But we must have in our hearts that we’re going to do brave and diligent. We shall not be unwise, but understanding, don’t get drunk with wine and be excessive, but be filled with the Spirit.
The Apostle basically explained about dogmatic exposition in the beginning and then the application of that dogma, because without application, dogma is completely worthless. The devil knows our dogma and attempts to manipulate it. So, we have to follow dogma and apply it. We have to understand that Christianity is a moral struggle and recognize the world’s devious ways into swelling immoral deeds or deceive us to accepting them.
Saint Paul admonishes us to redeem the time because the days are evil. “Evil” in the Greek means “hurtful evil in effect, calamitous, diseased, derelict and vicious.” These adjectives describe our modern world, as seen in daily news headlines. We are living in the last days, a time when building Holy, righteous character is becoming ever more difficult. Many paths of wrongdoing and wrong thinking can cause us to lose focus on God’s way of life; Evil can consume us!
Most do not meditate on the temporary state of human existence or that our days are numbered. Human nature leads us to believe we will continue on, with unlimited physical days. This mindset permeates every new generation. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:10-12)
Wisdom is to make use of time. Individuals must spend more time and energy just to maintain a physical existence as compared to younger people. We must relearn this vital principle and zealously use our numbered days and limited energy to do the works of God.
Unfortunate to us leaving in the 20th Century engulfed in darkness. Spiritual blindness has led many into hurtful pursuits and paths (. These include materialistic idolatry—the pursuit of physical wealth, status, worldliness and position. In this end-time state of blindness, God’s people have drunkenly stumbled along, tripping over various forms of mind-wasting entertainment, human-based “morality” and selfish, competitive pursuits. (Revelation 3:17)
Adrift in an era of spiritual confusion, debate and sarcasm, brethren who have not “anointed their eyes” have lost their sense of urgency. This age is characterized by wandering people unable to settle down, groping in the darkness, without light. Lost are spiritual focus, goals and an attitude of service to brethren. Lost is vision and “Where there is no vision, the people perish” in spiritual darkness (Proverb 29:18).
In being rescued from loss, Those sleeping must be awakened by an outside source, since they are likened to being dead spiritually. Once awakened, we must actively seek to fulfill our spiritual vocation; we need to repent and be zealous until Christ returns, realize the need to buy back time that should have been spent preparing for the kingdom of God.
We become awakened and zealous, Lord Jesus Christ promises to give us light. A Christian can make rapid progress following a leader who knows the way: “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me” (Ephesians. 5:14-15, John 14:6).
God’s truth is a path to freedom, enabling us to thrust forward without the hindrances of doubt, deception and indecision: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We need to have Godly wisdom as it is said, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” As God’s people, we must “buy up” the opportunity to be the right example to the world through our daily speech and conduct. (Colossians 4:5-6)
Spiritual darkness, blindness, evil, deceit, perilous times, procrastination and our own sense of invincibility often deceive and ensnare us into wasting time. We must change our habits! We must redeem the time that remains in our lives and the time remaining in this age. If we use each day wisely, we will be “renewed day by day”. NOW is the time to establish new habits and right priorities! (2 Corinthians. 4:16).
Source: Bible Exposition
