No one would argue that these are unusual, fast-paced times in which we live. In fact, everything seems to be accelerated today in our rapidly-changing world. It is difficult to keep up with all that is changing and swirling around us. Maybe it’s because there seems to be so much to keep up with that the time seems to slip away and the days seem to be passing more quickly. Does anyone else think like that, or is it just me? We live in a modern world where everything is more convenient and time-saving, and yet, if you are like me, you often wonder where the time went at the end of each day. We all have the same 24 hours (1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds) to spend every single day.
In Ephesians 5:16, the apostle Paul tells us we ought to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” How do we redeem the time and make the most of each day? Time lost is truly gone forever. It can never be made up. I think, first of all, that we should take a look at Verse 17, “Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” So before we can redeem the time we each have been given, we must know what the will of the Lord is for our lives, so that we can spend our time, our talents, and our energy moving in that direction. We can then prioritize our lives, eliminate distractions, and maintain our focus in order to continually move in the will of the Lord.
This world offers many distractions. But it is up to each of us whether we allow those distractions to consume our time. We often live life as if it is a rehearsal, rather than the main event. Complacency, indifference, and procrastination can cause us to lose our focus. We have a sliver of time left before Jesus returns. It is time for all of us to wake up, spiritually speaking, and stay alert and more aware of the time stealers, the dangers of procrastination, and the focus derailers. We must get on board with what God is doing in these days and do all things according to the pattern He has already given us. If there was ever a time that we as the body of Christ needs to redeem the time, it is NOW! If we do not know what part God is wanting us to play, we must find out quickly.
This is why I wrote This Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal! The urgency of the hour has never been more apparent. Being politically correct is quickly going out of style. Remaining neutral is not an option. The Final Act has already begun to play out. Where do you fit in the last day’s drama? We each must know and as a “living stone” fit into the last days’ army God is raising up.
(Excerpts from This Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal by Patricia Rallo. To order, click here.)