We have discussed before about our physical bodies, which are so convenient here on earth and we have discussed the three score and ten years or four score. I believe some have truly missed the point of our time here on earth; therefore I would like to examine this more. We need to understand the “time” that we have here on earth and what it is truly for, because it would appear that in today’s time…we have missed something. Let’s begin with a verse from the Bible:
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17, emphasis added).
We have seen the “redeeming” of things or people. Beginning in the Old Testament we have seen redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. So “redeeming” something or someone is not unusual for the Bible student. But what does the unsaved individual think when they see the word, redeem? You would be surprised to see the quizical looks you will get when you ask the same question because they usually do not have an understanding of the word.
Redeem means to repossess something or as in the Old Testament, to repossess a person of bondage. Redemption is the word used, when a person is taken into slavery or bondage (for whatever reason), and then taking possession of them once again, as in paying their cost in ownership, make sense? In the biblical process it means to reclaim ownership of a slave and then setting them free. Believe it or not, the process is alive and thriving today.
You can also see this process in the use of water, reclaiming water and cleaning it for public use. It is the process of making something special, like a “renewable resource” (as in new life), so to speak. Even in space, water (as in urine), is being reclaimed by filtering and heating it and then using it again. Gross sounding, right? But it is the truth and it happens every day in one fashion or another, as well as varying applications and reuse. So the process is all around us in every day products, as in paper products, cardboard, plastics, certain wood products, etc. I am sure that everyone understands the “redemption” or “redeeming” processes now. We have come to see that in this physical life. Almost…everything is renewable…..except: Time.
We see this most pointed application when we go to a concert and then all of a sudden it’s all over (and we were having such a good time, too). When a person we love passes away, it is all over. Like I said, there are some things that are NOT renewable: Time and life. When we talk of life here on earth are we not speaking of the time spent here on this planet? It is in that way that “time” is the only thing that is NOT renewable. That one statement gives our lives here a slightly different spin to it in our minds, which we know is actually the “spirit.”
So then the question is: How can we best deal with our time here on earth? I would imagine the best place to start would be in the beginning, “Why are we here?” God created us to belong to HIM to bless us and have a family that loves HIM and blesses HIM. Sounds pretty simple, right? What happened though? We fell into SIN and God hates SIN, so…HE had to make some sort of way outfor us and to return to HIM, a “redemption” or “reclaiming.”
In that, HE came to earth as a man and died on a Roman cross as payment for our SINS. That is the first redemption and final act for reclaiming you and me…to HIM. Make sense? This process has been going on ever since, yet there are a larger numbers of people that still need to come to HIM and be redeemed from their SIN. To fail in that aspect means unconditional and eternal damnation. It is one way or the other and “time” stops for no one!
So then God made our lives to be three score and ten years or four score. As many of us know, it only takes a moment in prayer to be saved to heaven for eternity, but what we miss is the amount of time we had to spend in troubles that drove us to the Lord the reason God gave us 70-80 years. Man on the other hand has decided to create (if you will) different routes to “heaven” or “nirvana,” like Buddism, Shintaoism, New Age, Catholicisim, Muslimism and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, those practices will not get you anywhere, worth writing home about. They simply will not get you where you want to go. Jesus Christ and HE alone will get you to heaven.
Then the question quickly becomes, “What are we supposed to be doing here?” The Bible says this:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
God gave each of us the time we need,to do what we need to do in our lives, then again some never reach adulthood. Some pass on as a baby or an adolescent, but why? God’s holy and righteous purpose should be enough for us. Because we have bodies and we feel physical pain, we think this life is all important—when the opposite is more true. All we need is to answer the question of whom will we follow? Jesus Christ and go to heaven or Satan and his ilk—and go to the lake of fire? Outside of that all we have left is to tell others about Jesus Christ and that they can come to follow HIM as well. That my friends is the reason we are here. Stop and think about it, we came into this life with nothing but a body, that is exactly how we will leave this world. Everything here on this planet is worthless and temporary. Thus we must realize this and look in a different direction and Jesus Christ is your best bet!
Three score and 10 years is 70 years, sufficient time to suffer the ill-will of this world and look to Jesus Christ for salvation and life eternal in heaven. Stop and think; most will see 70 years and if you get four score (80), you may get to watch your friends and family pass away before you. That my friends is indeed suffering. You get extra time for the purposes that the Lord has already set down for you, your purpose in living your time here. So if we are here to follow Jesus Christ and bring others to the knowledge of HIM, then what of all the wealth and riches, power? Absolutely worthless! I would rather have Jesus Christ in my life than to have HIM against me!