While on a shopping spree before Christmas, I went to Kohl’s department store to look for one item, but came out with ten or more gifts marked off my list. Besides being excited about that, I was also delighted when the cashier gave me a coupon good for $50 in free merchandise I could redeem later.
I’ve received “Kohl’s cash” before but actually forgot to redeem them before they expired. And when you stop and think about it, it’s equivalent to real cash money. To throw it away (or let it expire) is foolish.
Don’t do that.
Paul told the church in Ephesus: “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk– not as unwise people but as wise– making the most of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Most translations say, “…redeeming the time.”
I’ve studied the meaning behind this instruction from every angle possible and it always goes back to the same thing: make the most of every opportunity.
Similar to my free cash that had an expiration date, we need to be careful not to take the time we have for granted. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10).
A key ingredient for redeeming anything is vision and purpose.
Vision points you in the right direction.
Purpose motivates your vision.
If you don’t have vision for the future (including tomorrow), how do you know if you’re going the right way? The Bible says, “without vision, people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). I think we could interpret this not as physical death but death of purpose. God has a plan for each of our lives– and each one is very important. We are a tapestry of His will; each of us “knitted together… promoting growth in the Body…” (Ephesians 4:16).
I needed to have vision and motivation to use my Kohl’s cash while I had the opportunity. In the same way, I will miss my chance to redeem the time God’s given me if I don’t know and understand what He desires.
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).
None of us know when this “time” we have expires– the Bible says we won’t know the day or the hour. This simply means, it would be wise for us to live every day as if it expires soon. I like something Rev. Joseph Morris often says: “This isn’t an escape theology; it’s a hustle theology. When you see the finish line, you run faster.”
My encouragement to you today is: REMEMBER TO REDEEM THE TIME.
Don’t let time expire on your purpose!
Run your race. Spend time with God and make sure you are running in the right direction. Don’t take things for granted. Pray often. Pray fervently. Let your requests be made known to God! “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
