Redeeming the Time

This morning marked the end of daylight savings time for 2018. According to Wikipedia, “Daylight saving time in the United States is the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour during the warmer part of the year, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less.” A phrase often used to remind people how this works is “spring forward, fall back.”

Most of America observes daylight savings time except for Arizona (minus Navajo tribal lands), Hawaii, and overseas territories. There have been various debates regarding this practice. I personally prefer having an extra hour of daylight in the evening especially when doing street ministry.

The Bible has an account of a supernatural extension of daylight. Look at what happened in Joshua 10…

12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 

14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

Have you ever wished you could go back in time and reverse bad decisions? While we cannot undo the past, God has ways of redeeming our future if we do our part. Colossians 4:5 says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”

In addition, when we make Bible reading a priority, it supernaturally gives us more time to do other important things. In her book “God's Will for You”, Gloria Copeland wrote about how when she and her husband Kenneth moved to Tulsa in the late 1960s, she had many responsibilities. Following a suggestion made by Oral Roberts, Gloria made a commitment to read the Gospels and the book of Acts from her Amplified Bible three times within 30 days. As a result, Gloria got more things accomplished in her life than ever before. Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Once I heard Kenneth Copeland praying about how much farther he’d be in ministry had he gotten born again at an earlier age. The Lord told Kenneth he would be exactly where he was. This illustrates one of my favorite Scriptures…Joel 2:25, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.”

It’s often been said if we take care of God’s business, He will take care of ours.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” - Ephesians 5:15-16

Take Your Time

Occasionally God uses secular songs to minister to me especially in my dreams. One example happened two months ago. I was in the Twin Cities area engaged to a woman who was starting a new job in Nashville. The original plan was for me to stay in Minnesota until my fiancée found a place to live for the two of us. Then I would move down to Tennessee and get married there.

Two days before leaving Minnesota, my fiancée asked me to ride with her because she didn’t want to make the trip alone. A friend of hers who had contacts in the Nashville area was to come along but cancelled out. At first I was against riding with my fiancée because she insisted on making an all-night drive in order to attend a prophetic meeting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She didn’t like my suggestion of waiting an extra day. 

Just after 1 AM the next morning, I woke up from a dream in which I was listening to the 1980 S. O. S. Band hit “Take Your Time (Do It Right).” I knew that was the Lord speaking to me and emailed my fiancée about this. She then agreed to postpone the trip. That gave us more time to take care of unfinished business.

Before we began the journey to go south, I started praying and heard these words in my spirit, “Don’t go on this trip!” I opted to leave for Tennessee anyway since I wanted to get out of Minnesota before colder weather set in. The next two weeks were difficult as my fiancée and I couldn’t find appropriate housing in Tennessee. Our plans to marry were also hindered due to my fiancée losing her IDs. Eventually I went to Florida.

Are you thinking about doing something but not sure it’s God’s will? Sometimes it’s best to wait especially if it concerns tying the knot with someone. You are better off single and wanting to be married than being in a bad marriage and wanting to be single (see Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24). God would rather have you lag behind His plan for your life than to prematurely jump ahead with major decisions that could have disastrous results.

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength…”

- Isaiah 40:31

On God’s Time

One sign we are living in the last days is an increasing number of people not keeping their promises. While we might think of individuals who dishonor their marriage vows or refuse to pay their bills, another way people break promises is not being punctual. The dictionary defines punctual as “happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.”

If we tell someone we’ll pick him up in 5 minutes, we shouldn’t purposely arrive 30 minutes later. I have a close friend who has a weakness in this area. At least he apologizes when showing up late. On the other hand, I’ve dealt with people who frequently dawdle and don’t think it’s a big deal. What they are saying by their actions is, “My time is more valuable than your time.”

Some cultures don’t value punctuality as much as others. While ministering in Germany a few years ago, I noticed the Germans themselves were often on time but a lot of the migrants there weren’t. One night I had to wait around for an Asian man I was staying with who took extra time working on a ministry project at somebody else's house. He originally agreed to drive us home by a certain time. When I reminded him that Jesus said to “…let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37), this man became very defensive.

A pastor told me about a time he was the guest speaker at a Native American church in Oklahoma. Many of the congregation members walked in late during the service. That prompted this pastor to talk about the importance of being on time. The congregation must have felt convicted. When the pastor came back to this church a couple of years later, he noticed a sign posted up that read, “We are not on Indian time, we are on God’s time.”

The Lord certainly expects us to keep our word when we agree to do something. Look at the Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21…

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 

29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 

30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.”

Students are taught not to be tardy for class. Most employees show up at their jobs on time or else they might get fired. Shouldn’t we show that same kind of respect for our friends, loved ones, and especially God? 

“LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart…he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change” - Psalm 15:1-2, 4

In the Nick of Time

Someone once asked if I believe in deathbed salvations. I most certainly do. The thief on the cross is an excellent example. He had just enough time to call on the Lord before dying with Him at Calvary. Jesus told the thief, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) 

I’ve heard numerous testimonies of people coming to know the Lord moments before dying. One evangelist I know saw this happen with a family member. A few years ago, Nick Kinn received a call from his sister nudging him to meet with their 86-year-old uncle about getting right with God. John Kinn had attended a Lutheran church but didn’t know if he was going to heaven. Nick prayed with his uncle to get born again. Five days later, Nick’s sister called again informing him Uncle John had died.

On the other hand, I’ve witnessed to individuals who think they can continue “living it up” but then get saved at the last minute. That’s a dangerous idea to entertain. Every day people suddenly die from car accidents, drive-by shootings, terrorist bombings, heart attacks, storms, and other tragedies. Those that didn’t have time to make peace with God are now suffering the eternal consequences.

Some might complain it’s not fair for one to get saved just before dying while others were faithful Christians for years. This reminds me of the Parable of the Vineyard Workers in Matthew chapter 20. All the laborers who began working during the eleventh hour received the same wages as those starting earlier in the day. Remember God is merciful and doesn’t want anymore to perish (2 Peter 3:9). 

It’s better for one to get saved late in life than not at all. So if you don’t know the Lord, I urge you to receive His free gift of salvation right now. Don’t put it off! You may not have another opportunity.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 

- 2 Corinthians 6:2

It’s Not Too Late

As a young Christian, I had a fear of missing God’s plan for my life. That was largely overcome through listening to a Joyce Meyer tape series a friend recommended called “No Fear Lives Here.” One key point that really blessed me was God telling Joyce, “If you miss Me, I’ll find you.” Soon I realized our walk with the Lord is not on a tightrope where it’s all over if we make one wrong move. As long as we remain open to correction, God will gently guide us back in the direction He wants us to go.

Once I heard Kenneth Copeland talk about a time he asked the Lord how much farther in ministry he would be if he had gotten saved at a younger age. The Lord told Kenneth he would be exactly where he was at that time. Of course, that’s not an excuse to procrastinate and purposely waste time. James 4:14 says, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

There are people in the Bible that made major mistakes but God still used them to do great things. Moses perceived at a young age he was called to deliver his fellow Israelites from Egyptian bondage. But after killing an Egyptian, Moses ran away and spent 40 years in the desert until God sent him back to Egypt and eventually led the Israelites out to freedom.

Samson is another example of how God can use us in a greater way during the final days of our lives. After being seduced by Delilah into revealing the source of his strength, the Philistines cut off Samson’s hair, gouged out his eyes, and made him into a slave. But after his hair grew back, so did his strength. Samson soon found himself in a temple with 3000 Philistines. He pushed against the pillars so that the entire building collapsed. Samson killed more Philistines in this final act than he had previously (Judges 16:1-30).

God has a way of redeeming all areas of our lives including lost time. So if you’re still breathing, it’s not too late for God to use you for His glory.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you.” - Joel 2:25