No Time to Waste!

 

The other day I had the opportunity to walk down a path I'd never been before, literally.  One of the local parks had opened a new walking trail.   What an enjoyable walk it was, in the beautiful springtime weather!  However, I was by myself; and, it was an unfamiliar path.  As I walked, I looked around carefully at my surroundings, even though there were other people walking on the path also. 
Although I didn't see any that day, I have in the past seen deer, gophers, snakes, rabbits, birds of prey, etc.  If I had not been carefully looking, I'd have not seen them which, in some cases wouldn't have mattered and in others could have been dangerous.  Truth be told, I'd have not seen some of them at all, had I not been walking with a friend.

Today's text is Ephesians 5:15-21 (NET).

15Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the crux of verse 15 is translated "walk circumspectly".  This means to look all around you (like looking in a circle) as you walk, to intercept hidden dangers.  This is wise behavior.  Fools just go blithely skipping along, singing "tra la la la la", oblivious to dangers lurking.  Paul goes on to admonish us to keep a clear head, and the example he gives is that of getting drunk.  If you are drunk, or overmedicated or negatively influenced by some other "excess" (such as not getting enough sleep), you can't think clearly.  Consequently, you may make foolish, ill-conceived decisions.  Who among us has not ever experienced "morning after" regret?

Why is it important to avoid excesses of this nature? 

One reason involves excesses becoming habits of life which have long-term, negative impact.  That occasional drink, to use Paul's example, becomes an every-day habit.  Health becomes adversely affected.  Effectiveness for the Lord is diminished or extinguished entirely.  Testimonies become compromised.  Relationships become either strained or broken.  This is often referred to as "carnal living" - - pinging back and forth like a pinball, without spiritual discipline, according to the whims and cravings of our flesh.

A second reason Paul gives (as if we needed another) is that time is short to accomplish God's work!  Our lives are short, when viewed in light of eternity.  None of us is promised another day to do what He has called us to do.  Our lives can end in this next hour.  No one knows.  But, in addition to that sobering thought, none of us knows when God will pull back the scrim separating Heaven from Earth and send the Lord Jesus here to receive His Bride!  This will effectively end the Church Age.  What God has called us to do, we should pursue soberly, unhindered by "loose living" of various stripes. No time to waste!

"Nature abhors a vacuum", as the old saying goes.  So, if we don't fill our bodies and souls with frivolous pursuits (which does not mean we can't ever have any fun, by the way), how then should we live?

1.  We are to submit to the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives, allowing Him to "fill us" day-by-day.  So often, we fill ourselves with "counterfeit god", when our true hunger can only be truly satisfied with the "righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Ghost", as the song says.
2.  We are to build Christian community by worshiping together joyfully.
3.  We are to give thanks to the Lord for one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
4.  We are to submit to one another, which basically means walking in humility together, viewing others as precious, beloved children of God.  We can help each other be "circumspect", as my walking friends have helped me see things on the walking trail.

The "submit to one another" admonition frames the more specific "submission" admonitions that follow in Ephesians 5, and which we'll look (back) at in the blog post for tomorrow.

Lord Jesus, teach us to walk circumspectly, filled with your Spirit, in right relationship with both You and our fellow believers.  Help us to use our time and resources wisely, for Your honor and glory.  In Your incomparable name I pray, amen.