Redeeming the Time

The stated purpose of Barnabas Notes is to encourage those who need encouragement. I pray that you have been encouraged by what you have read in these notes. Usually, the word of encouragement we offer comes from a passage of Scripture that tells us that God loves us and is ready, willing and able to comfort any of us in our afflictions. There is another side to encouragement, however.

In order to be truly lifted up, we have to realize that we have a responsibility, as well. God never promises to take away all our troubles so that we never have to suffer anything. We should not expect God’s blessings in our lives if we are determined to live contrary to His will, as though He does not mind our rebellion. God does not promise to give us strength to endure when we so callously treat Him and His word. It is true that sometimes we suffer as a result of the consequences of our own actions.

The most encouraging thought in all of Scripture is that God will save me in the end, to be with Him in heaven for eternity. However, that promise is offered only to those who, in faith, submit themselves to His will. Those who want to be comforted in this ultimate way (heaven) have a responsibility to live in a certain way.

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15, 16). We have to be careful to walk as wise men. It does not just happen. “Walking as wise men” means living the way God wants us to live; living in a way that will result in eternal life and not eternal condemnation. “Making the most of your time” means not wasting time thinking that you will always have another day to do the right thing. The days are evil and every day you hold off giving yourself in faithful obedience to God, it gets harder to do.

I doubt any of us thinks living in fear is a very comforting way to live. How can we live, not in fear, but in hope? How can we know we have eternal life? The apostle John wrote us to tell us just how we can have such knowledge (1 John 5:13). Among other things, John says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:3-5).

This is exactly the reason we always refer to Scripture in these notes from friend Barnabas. There is nothing I could ever say that can offer better hope than the hope of Scripture, but in the Word of God we have all the hope we need. Yes, God has required some things from us in order to have hope of eternal life (the ultimate answer to all our problems), but it is also true that if we obey Him, we do not have to worry about any petty little problems here on this earth. Remember the words of Paul: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). If you are a faithful Christian, you have this same hope. And you have it because God loves you and so do I.