The Blessed Life #12: Redemption of Time

While proudly showing off his new apartment to friends, a college student led the way into the den. “What is the big brass gong and hammer for?” one of his friends asked. “That is the talking clock,” the man replied. “How’s it work?” the friend asked.

“Watch,” the man said, then proceeded to give the gong an ear shattering pound with the hammer. Suddenly, someone screamed from the other side of the wall “Knock it off you idiot; it’s 2 o’clock in the morning! :) (Streiker, Nelson’s Big Book of Laughter , p. 425)

Time is something which affects every one of us. It marches on regardless of what is happening. Ever since we were conceived, our moments have paraded by; Seconds turn to minutes, hours, weeks, years, and before we know it, years turn into a lifetime. While it may seem like we have a long time to live, (especially to our younger readers) the reality is, our time is short. And once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Thus, I encourage you this new year to consider how you live. Many follow the ideology “Eat, drink and live for tomorrow we die.” However, it is not in our best interest to simply bury our heads in the sand to ignore the reality.

We have one life to live. I challenge you, live with no regrets—speak to those you’ve refused to for months or years. Live without fear. And be mindful of each action you take, word you say, and thought you think. What you do, you can never take back. Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

Yet, at the same time, we need to bear in mind our time on earth will end, and there is another life for us to live on the other side of the rainbow, so to speak. Therefore, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16). 

Furthermore, Jesus instructed us to lay up treasures to precede us into the next life (Matt. 6:20). We attain these priceless treasures through serving and loving others, putting their needs in front of ours as Alan mentions. 

But in order for us to receive these treasures, we must first of all, have a personal, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Prior to receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, our lives were not quite what they needed to be. We were damaged goods as a result of our sins (Rom. 6:23). We were worse than the Christmas presents that some of us are returning. :) 

God did something about our damaged condition, though His Son, Jesus. He redeemed us from that lifestyle. Likewise, He redeems our eternity (Eph. 1:13-14).  

In His service,

            Matt