Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many years ago when I first moved out into the woods, we didn’t have any phone service, and for the very first time in my life I needed to pick up a few cell phones. It was the only way that we could communicate with each other when I was away or working out in the woods somewhere. But before using them, I needed to buy prepaid phone cards which would give you a certain amount of time for a set cost. After entering a special code into the phone, you could begin making calls, but you had to be very careful that you made the best use of the time that you had available, because before you knew it, it was all gone.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Like a phone card, God gives each of us a certain amount of time on this Earth, and before you know it, our card will expire. This is why we must use the time that He has given us for the right reasons and make sure that we redeem the time that we have left!
Ephesians 5 ¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Whenever we used phone cards, I always made sure not to use the time frivolously. Before placing a call, you needed to exercise some wisdom, making sure that you didn’t waste time foolishly. Time is a very important commodity, and today we learn about a group of people who used their time unwisely, and never even bothered to prepare themselves for what was coming in the near future.
Matthew 25 ¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. ¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Think about all the people in the days of Noe who had many years to believe the things that he was preaching and repent of their sins. But they never took advantage of the time that they have been given and prepare themselves for the future. Because of this, that day came upon them unawares and they were all carried away in the flood.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42
Think of all the wasted time that people have spent seeking after Earthly pleasures and riches, frittering away the moments that God has granted them. Think of all the squandered years that people spend storing up for their own retirement, only to have their life quickly taken away from them by God.
Luke 12 ¹³ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. ¹⁴ And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast
provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
When I was pretty young I had an old wind-up clock, and before bed each night, you had to make sure that it was wound up tightly so that the alarm would go off in the morning. But it had its limitations, because no matter how much you wound it up, eventually it would stop and the clock would quit ticking. Unlike a clock, we cannot wind ourselves back up, so we must utilize the time that we have remaining the best that we can. We cannot buy another prepaid card or pay to have it filled back up again. Like sand through an hourglass, the clock is ticking, and God is watching to see what you do with the rest of your life.
“But this I say, brethren, the time is short:… 1 Corinthians 7:29
So many things can get in the way of our relationship with God. So many things can get in the way of what we do for the name of Christ, but each day that passes brings us one day closer to the final judgment.
Romans 13 ¹¹ 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. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:” 1 Peter 1:17
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Colossians 4:5
Whether we are young, or whether we are old, it is God who determines the length of your life. You will have to examine your own hearts to see if you are actually preparing yourself for what is coming in the future. Everyone who claims to be a Christian must repent and make wise use of the time that they have left, because eventually time is going to run out, just like…..
… My Phone Cards
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious goups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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