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!

What days we are living in today all across the world? Do you know what these days are called? (The end of days.) These are the DAYS just before the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ! Our leaders are falling all over themselves in ignorant posturing and in failed attempts to fix what they don’t understand and never will, simply because they are the blind leading the blind.

Born-again believers and Bible students already know what is about to take place, because we read our Bibles! In the entire Bible from front to back, God has always told us ahead of time what is going to happen! So the situation is foretold, a “prophecy” and so who are the ones reading the Bible and then following it? It definitely is NOT our leaders! And, by in large, it is not our neighbors and other people we know. IF they did read it, then as a whole, we would NOT be in the situations we presently find ourselves in. Can I get an Amen, on this?

Good or bad, it’s always this: “I am this or that and everyone else is wrong, I am right!” And again, I am going to say the problem is this: “It’s all about ME.” Well friends and neighbors, guess what? It is NOT all about YOU or ME. IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. He created everything around us and that includes you and me. Having said that, it definitely is NOT about YOU or ME alone, that is flagrant blasphemy of God! It is blasphemy because then we are trying to take HIS place in anything and that is against what the Bible says.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:15-18, emphasis added).

I didn’t say this, it is in the Bible, which means that God said it and if God said this, then it is truth and we should listen to it. The question then should be to ask ouselves, “What are my fruits like?” Are we endeavoring to bring the Word of God to the lost, so that they will understand and accept the Lord as their Savior? Or are we too busy being concerned about ourselves? It’s a valid question!

I have problems, you have problems, but God is greater than any problem, anyone could ever have and that is the point here. I do not care what you are suffering from, God is still greater than that problem and if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, then we should take that problem to HIM.

I am NOT saying HE is going to take that problem away from you or me. In HIS infinite wisdom HE already knows of your problem and knew before HE created the universe. Therefore, you may still have the problem and maybe HE wants you to learn to work around it and through it and if that is the case HE will give you the strength to do so. It is then to HIS glory and honor, not ours.

Do you understand why we have these problems? Do you know why our leaders are so ignorant and without common sense? SIN…that is why! We humans are full of SIN:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

If God stated this in the Bible, which evidently HE did, then it is the truth! We are definitely known by our fruit and we are definitely in need of the Lord, in every way. In everything we do or say it should be about HIM and no one else! And IF the times we are living in are so desperately wicked and bad, guess who brought that about? Not God…it was YOU and ME, that’s who.

This should make each and every one of us ashamed, especially before such a righteous and soverign God. WE are the ignorant people that should be on our knees continually and WE should be the ones begging for HIS forgiveness for our SIN. We are the culprits in all this garbage. We started this by walking away from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We should be asking HIS forgiveness and placing ourselves in HIS capable hands, which is where we should remain.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

This verse is asking the question, “Do we know we are saved and how can we be sure we’re saved?” You’re saved becauseyou know whether you have given your heart and spirit to the Lord and if it’s anything else then you are a liar! God is NOT the reprobate…it is you or me! It is impossible for you NOT to know whether you are saved to Jesus Christ. Again, your fruit will be evidence of it or not!

If your life is not happy, then change it! Call on Jesus Christ and ask HIM to save you, it’s that easy. If your life is not happy, then it is evident your against the Lord in some way and you need to identify that block, you must realize it is your problem and then ask HIM for HIS forgiveness. Ask HIM to make you whole again, talk to Jesus Christ.

Ask HIM if your problems will go away or are you meant to work through them. Somtimes somewhere along the way no solution can be found for an issue, therefore you deal with the problem every day of your life—just as I do with my problems. It may be the Lord is telling you not to try to fix it all by yourself, that you are not able to, therefore you must look to the Lord, for HIS strength!

The entire concept of the Bible….is to come to the Lord. Whatever your problem is, the Lord wants you to bring it to HIM. HE is the Creator….you are the created. You MUST understand this because if you never do, you will never know HIS strength, HIS willingness, HIS power, HIS love…for YOU. I did not say this, the Lord said so in HIS perfect and Holy Word—the Bible. PLEASE read it and find out for yourself as I did, and now I know that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I will not deviate from HIS Word for any reason!