Redeeming the Time

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
 
Colossians 4:5 says, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
 
How can you redeem, or buy back, time? It is not like you can actually step back in time and redo your past or make a different decision. You may not be able to, but God can!
 
Redeeming the time means not only obliterating the past, but also bringing your future into your present. It is erasing your memory and launching you into your destiny. It is why scripture says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The phrase “passed away” can mean “to go past as a person moving forward, an act continuing for a time (meaning seasonal or ending), or to perish” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). That moment in time dies to the point I move passed it because God has changed me in changing my past! He changes your history so you can change history! In order to step into new life, those past events must be erased, giving you a new and fresh beginning! That new life begins not some months or years down the road, but it begins now at the point of redemption! The reason God casts your sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) or your transgressions into a sea of forgetfulness, never to remember them any more, is because He changes your past. The sea of forgetfulness is not for God but for you. *In God’s omniscience, it is impossible for Him to forget. Simply, His perspective varies from ours. When He goes back to that moment of hurt, defilement and brokenness, He sees the blood! That is redemption!
 
Many of us in this room today have been shaped by our past, whether it is how we were raised, who our parents are, or what events occurred in our childhood years, whether positive or negative. Our past is what shapes who we are, whether it is mistakes we have made, events that happened in our childhood, or who makes up our genealogy. The only way God can change your identity is to change your history! It is like you can ask one person why they are an alcohol, and they may answer because their father was and it is the only world they have ever known. You ask someone else that very same question and they may tell you because their father was an alcoholic, and they learned from his example of the damage and pain it causes, and so they were determined to never drink a drop of it. It is all about perspective!
 
In your memory, you choose not to forget what God has changed, but when heart revelation trumps mind assumption, then the power of redemption will effect time for you! God steps into that moment where your father abandoned you and becomes your Father. He enters that moment where you were raped or molested and heals you emotionally and physically so that you are no longer a victim of someone else’s perversion or filled with a bitterness towards a specific gender while remaining in an identity crisis. Through His grace, love and mercy, He works a work of deliverance to reveal that while you were in your pain and brokenness, He was already there! He is not bound by space, time or matter. Therefore He is not limited by your agenda, but He will already step into you tomorrow and work all things for you good! His ability to redeem time is why Jesus said do not wait four months and then comes the harvest, but now the harvest is ready. Jesus was, is and is to come. He was a prophet, is a priest and will be a king, but as the Redeemer of the time, He fulfills all of these roles for us all at one time!
 
God redeems your past, but sometimes naturally the consequences will run its course. You have the right to make your own decisions, but you are never allowed to escape the consequences of those decisions. The reason is because others have not understand the realness of redemption, and Satan’s past and future is already set in stone. It is impossible for him to be redeemed. Therefore, in his jealousy, selfishness and pride, he would want nothing more than for you to follow that same path. When you constantly dwell on a memory that no longer exists, you are only living a lie! The time has been redeemed, and you need to make the most of what you have now and available for Christ! *God changes your past to direct your future according to His original will and divine plan. God has given you the ability to redeem time to make the most of every moment that you have on this planet. It is why it is important to live out your redemption in the presence of those who need salvation.
 
God has already stepped into your tomorrow. That is why your biography has already been written in heaven, how the sacrifices and events of the Old Testament foreshadowed Jesus who was to come and fulfill the law of the prophets, and how prophetic words come to fruition. It is how God went before the children of Israel in Egypt and the wilderness, even consuming their enemies before they ever showed up on the scene (Deuteronomy 1:30-33; 9:3; Psalm 97:3). John 10:4 says, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” A shepherd does not lead in front of the line, but he leads from behind so that he can keep his eye on all of the sheep. This is not an action of laziness because he has already scouted the land he is taking the sheep. So, he knows exactly where He is going and leading the sheep. In Exodus 23:20, God had sent an Angel before them “to keep them in the way, and to bring them into the place which He had prepared.” A shepherd leader does not lead to be seen and noticed, but they lead from behind, keeping their eyes on all of the sheep so they do not face danger or wander aimlessly in the wrong direction. Jesus is the Good Shepherd leading us beside still waters while redeeming the time, going before us so that we do not go the wrong direction. Psalm 139:5 (NLT) says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Therefore, do not fret over tomorrow. God has already been there and if you trust Him, He will take care of it!
 
One person who redeemed the time was Rahab. Rahab is known in scripture as “Rahab the harlot”. While Rahab had a horrible past, her legacy still lives onto this day. It was no accident that she was positioned in the land of Jericho for the time that she was in. Hebrews 11 is known as the “wall of faith”. It is filled with stories and legacies of people of faith, such as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Noah, and Moses. However, in the midst of these incredible legacies, Rahab is mentioned among them. Hebrews 11:30-31 says, “30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Her legacy speaks volumes because even though she bore the label of harlot, she chose to risk her own life in Jericho by protecting the spies that Israel had sent. She could have died for treason if the government of Jericho had proven that she had kept these men in her home, but God spared and preserved her life and destiny. She did not perish with others in Jericho because she was a remnant of people who chose to secure her faith in God. God is looking for a remnant who will not compromise with status quo Christianity but will remain steadfast in their faith in the Word of God. He is searching for a remnant who is ready for an invasion of His glory, who wants more of Him than anything in this world! By being part of the remnant, your faith will speak volumes. You will not perish, but have life everlasting. It can only happen when you receive His message with peace and live out that very message. You have the opportunity to leave a legacy of faith, but you have to become willing to die to any label of this world and take upon yourself the label of Christian and God’s Child!
 
Rehab redeemed the time because of the scarlet thread that she placed in the window seal to let Israel know to protect her and her family. She should have been buried in Jericho, but instead she would be listed in the wall of faith and the genealogy of Jesus Christ because she made a decision to believe in the God of Israel. The blood of Christ redeemed her, and the time had been redeemed! Whatever label you have tonight, know that the redemptive power of the blood of Christ will break those labels, giving you a new beginning, changing your history and making your destiny and purpose come alive like never before!