TIME AND TIME AGAIN | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: TIME AND TIME AGAIN | Previous Challenge Entry
By Naoma Bird
03/07/22
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Time And Time Again
Sue took a deep breath and entered the church. She was excited to be joining a Sunday School class for new believers. As she entered the classroom with her new Bible, a pen, and paper in hand several others were already seated. She began to sense that old feeling of not fitting in again. She came to faith much later in life and most of the people here were much younger. What if they ask me to read? What if I fumble through the pages and the words? What if they ask me a question I can’t answer? I’m older than most here and probably know the least of all. If only I had done this much earlier in life.
Have you ever had a period in your life where you look back and wish you would have handled things differently in the past? Maybe you could have made a different life choice or just handled a certain situation better. You aren’t able to go back and get a do-over, so you live with some regrets, small or large. Time marches on.
Or so it seems!
What if you had an opportunity for a do-over?
What if you could take back or redeem the time you have lost, whether due to your own choices or the choices of others?
Scripture tells us a different story. Scripture tells us that time can be redeemed, not by our taking it back or going back in time, but by the mercy of God’s redemptive power and our obedience to his commands.
Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines redeem as to buy back; repurchase, to get or win back.
We see in the Old Testament that after being harshly disciplined for their rebellion against God, Israel was given a call to repentance and to return to God. God promises not only to resume blessing Israel, but also provide for, and protect his chosen ones who have failed. He even promised to restore what was lost in the destruction which they brought on themselves by their sin, disobedience, and rebellion. That is God’s mercy and grace, even in times of discipline.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25 NIV) *
In the New Testament, Paul encourages redeeming the time we have by making good use of the time and opportunities that God graciously provides for us now.
“Be very careful then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV)
Throughout the history of mankind, since sin entered the Garden of Eden, we have consistently forgotten God’s promises and His faithfulness, breaking our part of the covenant He has made with us. Yet he remains faithful to redeem the time we have wasted as we repent and follow Him.
God is perfectly holy, and full of grace. He shows his children mercy and is patient with them. However, his holiness also means he can’t look upon sin. Repeated rebellion will lead to the necessity of discipline. If we repent, he is willing to return to restore us and bless us once again because of his lovingkindness and mercy for us.
What time in your life do you wish you could redeem?
Be of good cheer, seek God and surrender it to him. For His word says:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

*All scripture quoted in this article are from the NIV Study Bible

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