Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:16

Paul the apostle continued to exhort the Ephesian church members by telling them to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise”, and in chapter five and verse sixteen of his letter, he added how they should be “redeeming the time” where we read:

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The verse begins, “Redeeming the time...” Paul began with the word, “Redeeming” which literally means “to pay a payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom and buy off” and metaphorically speaks of “Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of is vicarious death” “the time” or “due measure, a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis or the decisive epoch waited for”. The Ephesians were to “buy up” and “use wisely” their “time” on earth.

The verse goes on to say, “because the days are evil”. Paul continued with the word, “because” which means “since or as though” “the days” or “the natural day, the interval between sunrise and sunset as distinguished from and contrasted with the night or the general use of time such as the days of our lives” “are evil” which means “full of labors, annoyances, hardships, pressure, harassment and perils”. Paul knew the Ephesians were living in “evil days”, and they were to use their “time” expeditiously because of them.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we should warned not to “waste” our “time”. “Evil days” are upon us, and when we understand our “time” is fleeing, we are persuaded to use it wisely. Like the sand that constantly flows through the hourglass, our “time” on earth is slipping away. Those who understand this will “redeem” their time knowing that Jesus Christ will soon come again whether it be for them personally by way of death or through the “rapture” of the church. We live in “evil” times, so let us be busy about our Heavenly Father's work and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone before the last grain of sand falls through our hourglass.

Next time Paul tells the Ephesians to “be not unwise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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