“Be
very careful, then, how you live---not as unwise but as wise, making the most
of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Nothing
is said about the prodigal son after his return home to a rousing and grandiose
reception given by his father that his elder brother frowned on anyway. We
presume he had been busy making amends, redeeming the time, revisiting his life
as he played back revolting scenes in his mind, asking himself the question
whether that could have been him. Redeeming the time means making up for time
lost or uselessly spent.
The
number of years wasted in riotous living must have constituted a serious
setback for him. And so, he wanted to catch up with time, get the right
perspective, correct his flaws, and straighten up. If no mention is made of him
after his return, then we take it he would have learnt his lesson of
life----successfully picking up the broken pieces. To give meaning to his
existence, he had to start anew.
With
hindsight, most of us would like to relive our lives if given a chance, hoping
we would conduct ourselves the right way, in short honourably. Well, it does
not work that way. We will still be our age and cannot therefore perceive
things the way we do in our old age. We cannot live life backwards. “What has
been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new
under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) It is time to redeem what the devil has
stolen from us.
If
we have been blessed with long life it is primarily to demolish all the
strongholds in our lives, make a comeback and buy time, not to stumble and fall
again. It would be most unfortunate if at seventy we are still bound hands and
feet by the evil one; then we must ask ourselves for what purpose did Christ
come? He came to set the captives (us) free. (Luke 4:18) Besides, when we know
the truth, it shall set us free indeed. (John 8:32) In God’s plan everything
under the sun has a purpose.
This
is the time to say ‘no’ to the devil; that we have a destiny all mapped out for
us by none other than the Lord God Almighty. Tell him to the face that we are
aware that there is a plan for our lives on this earth; we are not just passing
through. When God created us He declared that His workmanship was good. He said
He had plans for every one of us. (Jeremiah 29:11) How then can we fail? How
can we be the tail and not the head? Until we fulfil the Lord’s plan for our
lives and know so, can we take advantage of the light before darkness sets in.
We
redeem the time when we take stock of our past, recognise our sins, repent of
them and are reconciled with God. Christ’s mission was to reconcile us with the
Father. God says in His Word that He will remember our sins no more. (Hebrews
8:12) We have been forgiven. Far be it that God should settle scores with us!
We
cannot earn our righteousness however hard we try. The Bible teaches that there
is none righteous except God and in fact all our righteousness is like fitly
rags. (Isaiah 64:6) Righteousness is free, already purchased for us by the
blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. (Romans 5:9) Recognising that in Jesus
Christ we have attained righteousness is good news. There is nothing we would
have to do just come as we are and receive the gift; accept that Christ has
done it for us and God the Father has acknowledged it.
God
and His Word are one, inseparable. The Word of God is a tool for righteousness.
(2 Timothy 3:16) Spend time in the Word for enlightenment. His Word stands
forever, it will not change. Everything shall pass away except the Word. Let us
hold on to it firmly. The Word is not only a lamp to our feet but also a light
to our path. It is a person who ‘became flesh and dwelt amongst us.’ (John 1:14)
Withhold
nothing back.
If
idols have encroached on God’s throne in our hearts, it is time to serve them notice
to vacate as we hand over the reins to Jesus. Let us depend on His love and
faithfulness to see us through. God is good; “He does not treat us as our sins
deserve.” (Psalm 103:10) “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his
thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our
God for He will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
God
has the final say. The invitation is to all. God loves His creation
equally-----the good, the bad and the ugly. Jesus says: “... (God) has rescued
us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He
loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians
1:14)
