Redeeming the time because the days are evil

Ephesians 5

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Turn off the noise and media and message of the world (for a moment). Forget about the weather, a few people with threatening disease, the lottery, your sports team and all the commercials that tell you how sick you are (but they will sell you a cure), how we have something to make you feel younger, healthier, sexier, richer and more important…

Forget (for a moment) all of the song lyrics and TV imagery of appeal to your lustful flesh for the purchase of the world as they would like you to see it.

Forget (for a moment) that you have to get up, go to work, make money, buy groceries, get gasoline and find some way to pay for other essentials.

Forget (for a moment) that you haven’t quite figured out why your loved ones act toward you and others and toward God on a daily basis differently than what you have taught and in some most un-Christlike and hurtful ways.

Do not worry about these things (for a moment) and consider this story of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer:

Mark 10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

Consider the man’s request. The man ran up to Jesus, knelt before Him as an act of humility and respect. (Some of us should learn from his example of respect to Jesus, the man we claim as our teacher).

The man asks a question to which we all want to know the answer (if we truly believe in the resurrection).  Our thoughts may proceed quickly something like this:

You either die and that is all there is – your body and soul (if you have one) will perish. OR At the end of our bodily life, some other life for our soul remains.

I do NOT want my soul to die. I may want this life to end. I may want to make this life better. But then what?

And to Jesus, as the rich young ruler might think: You teach that I have a choice; at least, that is, until my God-appointed day do die, as all men will. And then what?

Is there a way I can buy or earn this eternal life now?

Admit it. You want something better, don’t you; and we all would like that ‘better life’ to last forever.

Are the eternal hopes of the rich young ruler any different from your own?

 to be continued…