Redeeming the Time

“See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  -Ephesians 5:15-17 (NKJV).

Newer translations of the Bible render “redeeming the time” as “making the best use of time.”  I  somehow still like “redeeming the time,” as I memorized it from the King James Version. Eugene Peterson in The Message version gives  the verses Ephesians 5:11-17 as a very plain and self-explanatory paragraph in this way:  “Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness.  Expose these things for the sham they are.  It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see.  Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.  Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light!  So watch your step.  Use your head.  Make the most of every chance you get.  These are desperate times.  Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly.  Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” (Eugene H. Peterson.  The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.  Colorado Springs: Nave Press, 2002, p. 1616-17).

Recently a friend of mine sent me a parable he wrote that can well be applied to redeeming the time.  I will abbreviate his wonderful story to give just the highlights.  He pictured a place, celestial and beautiful, where the Master Architect and the Master Clockmaker created clocks of all shapes, sizes order.  They were perfect when finished.  These were “as the sands of the sea in number.”  They were placed everywhere each on its special mantel to chime and keep account of time.  Their works, operated on an amazing mainspring in each clock,  received power from the Son.  Some were recalled to the celestial city of origin at their time to go.  But some were revamped, re-oiled, given a new lease on life, sometimes even placed on different mantels in different locations to keep watch of the time in a new and different place.  Here they kept working, kept tolling their beautiful chimes, showed the time on radiant smiling faces.  When the Clockmaker called to them again they were ready to stop…ready to rest…ready to return to the Celestial City.  And from the many clocks was a message, similar and urgent:  “Listen up, you, there!  The hour may be getting late.  Toll clearly and enjoy all the time you have left.  Check in with the Clockmaker. Good news is here!”

Let us redeem, make the best use of time.  Clasp time as a precious commodity, affirming its opportunities for beauty, love and usefulness.

                                                                                    -Ethelene Dyer Jones  03.17.2013.