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by Brother Carlton

01/03/22
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As we enter a new year let us reflect on the importance of time and how we ought to prioritize the management of ourselves.

Have you ever thought seriously about time? What is it anyway?

It comes and goes that much we know and it doesn't wait around patiently like some kind folks but it moves swiftly to its next destination.

That's time.

It leaves its mark that's for sure.

In the physical dimension time brings more wrinkles, more grey hair, more bending of the back and breaking of the bones.

That's time.

It leaves its emotional scars but with time also comes the possibility of emotional healing, intellectual growth and the improvement of moral character.

Yes, with God and the time He has given us all things are possible.

Now let me offer you a miniscule description of time.

Time is the area of change, of maturation and development so said one of my late mentors R. J. Rushdoony (educator, social critic, theologian and philosopher)

1916-2001)

Yes, that's a good description of time I think.

A dictionary definition might read something like the following:

Time is the apparent irreversible succession of events that take place from the future to the present to the past.

The passing of time is an inescapable fact of life so don't waste it because once its gone it is gone forever.

As I wrote in my poem "Live Right"

"The past is gone forever, the future not yet here;
worry not about these things, live today, do not fear."

Because the days are evil in which we live meaning they are full of wicked men and women doing all kinds of evil deeds teaching various damnable heresies speaking and promoting things which are contrary to God's laws we are commanded by the apostle Paul to "redeem the time for the days are evil."

To redeem the time means to make a diligent use of it, an improvement of it to the best advantage we can.

To redeem the time shows that it is valuable and precious, and is not to be trifled with, and squandered away, and lost, as it may be; for it can neither be recalled nor prolonged:

The late and venerable theologian John Gill said: "We must use time as an opportunity of doing good to 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 of gaining the souls of others, and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men, should be neglected"

Now I trust you see more clearly the importance of redeeming the time.

The longer we live the less time we have to make the necessary changes for improving ourselves, for getting better results and a more favorable outcome in our endeavors.

Time stops for nobody. It swiftly moves and never goes backwards although we through our foolishness often seem to go backwards and stop short of the progress we desire.

Romans 13: 112 reminds us "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

For those on their death bed or who might be dying of some terminal illness (in one sense that's all of us for sin is a terminal illness) it is high time to seek the Lord and become new creatures in Christ.

Put off the grave clothes and put on the grace clothes as I once heard a famous radio teacher state.

We're told to redeem the time for the days are evil.

The longer we live the less time we have to evangelize and educate others.

The longer we live the more sins we have need to repent of.

At age 50 I had far more sins to repent of than I had at age 25.

Consider Jacob who at age 130 said to Pharoah:"The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage

When we're young like when we're in our teens or twenties or thirties we think life will never end and so we are tempted to put off planning for the future.

If we're single we think we have our whole life to enjoy first, apart from planning for a family, apart from planning for a career, apart from planning for retirement.

This kind of thinking is a mistake.

Military Generals don't wait until the war starts before planning and redeeming the time. They plan as early as possible to achieve victory.

Likewise must Christians plan early and redeem the time.

We only have so much time and isn't it better to plan sooner rather than later?

Imagine a wedding planner planning for others weddings and not her own.

Imagine a funeral director planning for others funerals but not his own.

Imagine planning for a possible burglary or robbery but only after the fact. Hey, it's too late then. What's done is done. What's taken is taken

Listen you must plan now and redeem the time for the days are evil. Opportunity for doing good will not always be there so take it now.

The blessed preacher A. W. Tozer once said: "When you kill time, remember that it has no resurrection."

Some of us drift through life gaining a lot of experience but never seeming to make any progress but then I am reminded of what the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans chapter 8 verse 28:

"All things work together for good to them who love God to them who are called according to his purpose."

No matter how many mistakes you've made don't sell the grace of God short and neither should you be slow to confess your sins for if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Don't think God's grace isn't sufficient to give you what is necessary to make progress and to accomplish worthy goals.

On the other hand don't presume upon the grace of God by doing evil and thinking

God will overlook your wicked deeds.

Did God overlook Judas' wicked betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Not from what we read of the record.

Judas even confessed his great transgression by saying " I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood" Matthew 27:4

There was no forgiveness for this disciple of Jesus because his heart wasn't changed and for all we know Judas would have committed the same act of treachery if given another opportunity.

He sold his Lord to the enemy for 30 pieces of silver.

How much have you and I sold ourselves to do evil over the years?

If we could recall all our sins and shortcomings and all our failures to keep our word and promises and do our duty as required it would amaze most of us I am sure.

The present times are no doubt dangerous with the sociopathic global elites hastening their efforts at population reduction via man made pandemics and deadly viruses.

Our days are full of trouble and temptations, and only the watchful Christian soldier and diligent servant of Jehovah have any reason to expect that they shall keep their garments unspotted.

Let us therefore redeem the time for the days are evil.

Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos YouTube brother Carlton.

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