NOT AS FOOLS…. this season the voice of the Lord has been pressing upon my heart to “redeem the time”. But what does this mean? Let’s look at the Scripture in context: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
The word “redeeming” means to “to purchase, to buy up” from the possession or power of anyone; and then to redeem or set free- as from service or bondage. Here specifically it means to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve time for important purposes. It denotes a careful and diligent use of our time, an improvement of it to the best advantage. A second gone is gone forever.
You can never relive that moment. But wait! There’s more! Paul tells us to not live as “fools”, but as wise saints walking “circumspectly”. We are told then that to purchase up our time and improve it for important purposes, we walk a certain way- circumspectly.
Circumspectly is defined as “strictly”, or “accurately”- generally used of intellectual thoroughness of moral strictness. The idea is not of looking around watchfully against danger; but of being careful, “to walk strictly”, of finding out the clear line of right, and then keeping to it strictly, so as not “to run uncertainly”. As Paul declared, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. This I fight: not as one who beats the air”. I don’t run aimlessly.
The times are evil; in fact Scripture affirms the last days are more than evil, they are perilous because of widespread deception. If you think you cannot be deceived, you are foolish. If you are paying attention to Biblical prophecy, events are unfolding before our very eyes. People are being deceived by the masses. Christians are being deceived. In fact we are told, “the very elect would be deceived”. But then it makes sense when you understand that 6% of self proclaimed Christians have a Biblical world view, this is down 3% from last year according to a Barna study. I don’t doubt it.
Cheap grace and false love are the calling card of modern humanistic Christians. They do not hold to Scripture and teach others the same. Deception abounds and the deceived don’t even know they are deceived. Jesus said the lukewarm are “wretched, miserable, poor, BLIND, and naked”. No matter what they say about themselves, the lukewarm are blind and deceived. It is a ripe atmosphere for the spirit of lawlessness. This is that antichrist spirit that rejects the laws of God and it permeates society.
Many have and will continue to fall away from the faith. A sure sign of the end times is apostasy from Biblical faith and the long held doctrinal tenets of Christianity,“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some (the Greek is actually “many”) will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” I Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV
(This is not speaking of a personal faith in Christ, but from “the faith”. When you add “the” in front of another word in the Greek, it changes the definition. This is referring to Scriptural truth, the tenets and doctrines of Christianity). Once you defect from Scripture, you’ve defected from “personal faith”. How do we stand firm in the faith? Walk wisely, not as fools.
Walk circumspectly, redeeming the time. Walking is an ongoing action. Think as a rock climber. You cannot just put your foot anyplace, it must be carefully placed in the right foothold. Your hand is carefully placed on the next rock. You are not worried about falling; you have to be consumed with your footing.
Worrying will only cause you to make a mistake. You have keen focus on your path and you cling to your ropes. Trust your equipment. This is circumspectly. Time is valuable and precious. You cannot get back yesterday, no matter how hard you try. We don’t live in a perpetual Groundhog’s day. This is not the movies and you are not Bill Murray. You get one day at a time, one second, one minute, one hour; and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.
Do not be fools. Are you using your time wisely? Be engaged with your time. When you worship the Lord- be engaged with your worship. When you pray- be engaged with your prayer. When you listen to a sermon- be engaged with your listening. Give it the utmost attention. When you spend time with your family- give them all your attention. Play with your children and grand children. Be engaged with your time. Do not waste a single second.
When you rest- rest unto the Lord. There’s a reason He gives us the Sabbath. Do what you can, when your can, where you can. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow has its own trouble. Paul goes on to tell us that getting drunk and partying is a waste of time and is foolish.
Sin is foolishness; therefore remove yourself from all sinful folly. It’s a waste of time. Let no one deceive you, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:3-7 NKJVThese days are perilous. Be wise. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
