BY RON BARTANEN ─ We are living in days that could well be described as evil. That’s nothing new, however. The apostle Paul wrote almost 2000 years ago, “redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
The word “evil” here describes a condition of wickedness. A good God indeed dwells in heaven, but all is not right in the world. We are constantly bombarded with news of escalating violence and terrorism. Somebody commented that “Time is out of joint!”
As man moves farther and farther from the moral and spiritual standards set forth as set forth in God’s word, the Bible, the world becomes an increasingly more dangerous place in which to live.
How should the Christian react? Certainly not by throwing up his hands and saying, “What’s the use!”
Rather, Paul says to “redeem” (buy up, as in a marketplace) the time or opportunities and privileges that are ours, thus to use them in a way that will bring honor to the name of God.
As evil surrounds us, we know God’s judgment is nearer. We need to heed the words of Romans 13:11-12:
“Knowing the time, that now it is high time to wake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 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 armor of light.”
Ron writes from Florida and sends out a regular ezine called “The Sower.”
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