REASONS WHY YOU MUST REDEEM THE TIME - PART 4

Scripture: Psalm 90:9-12

Topic: You must redeem the time because that is the only wise thing to do with your life.

Unfortunately, many people do not treat time and opportunity as a special commodity. Time is something rare and precious, which God gives to all of us. It is the only thing you cannot regain or get back. When it is gone, it is gone forever. God’s admonition to us is to use the time we have on earth to do as much for Him as possible. We must work while it is day. The only wise thing to do with your life is to redeem the time for the work of the Lord.

"For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Psalm 90:9-12

The poem below is the lamentation of a young man who had the call of God and the opportunity to serve the Lord. He put off this opportunity and acted as though he would live forever. The poem describes how the realities of life caught up with him and he exchanged a glorious life of soul winning for the fading treasures of this world. When he came to himself, it was too late to recover the time that he had lost.

Sunrise and skies are fair

A day begins without a care

A day for joy, a day for leisure

A day for thrills, a day for pleasure

Youth is merry and young, youth is gay

The great reaper is far away

But there is a call, ‘tis the master’s voice

I need you today, may I be your choice

A harvest is waiting and the fields are white

Will you join the reapers in the morning bright

Awake oh youth to the heavenly vision

Because Multitudes, Multitudes are in the valley of Decision.

The morning sun high above the earth

A cry of distress in the midst of mirth

Heathen are born and heathen are dying

Is there none to hear them crying?

“Oh yes,” said the youth, count me as one

To help in this harvest till the day is done.

Yet he lingered on for a little more fun

High sun, high noon

You’ll be hearing from me soon.

I’ve married a wife, I’ve property to see

Five yoke of oxen acquired by me

I’ll soon heed the call, I’ll join the band

Ready to give the reapers a hand

But he carried on he had a bargain in hand

Afternoon sun and afternoon light

The golden ore hastened its flight

Conscience still hard memories daunted

Wealth; he had acquired, yet more was wanted

Many were the possessions he proudly flaunted

Houses and barns, lands and farms

Streams and ponds, stocks and bonds

Chickens and hogs, forest and logs

Crops and flack, meadows and haystacks

Orchards and berries, vineyards and cherries

Day was waxing, day was waning

Still the rich man was entertaining

For a sinister voice had spoken and said,

“On with the fun, on with the dance 

Go ahead and make merry while you have the chance

You’re a man of the times, you’re ten feet tall”

He saw time yet for the call

So a little more jolly and a little more fun

And the hours slipped away until there were none

Sunrise to sun fall

The day was wasting on the western wall

Hands still busy with a thousand things

As evening descends and curfew brings

The day had faded into twilight red

As multitudes hasten to join the dead

“I am ready”, “I am ready”, said the man at last

But shaking hands could not hold fast

His hair unnoticed had turned to gray

Still he thought it was yesterday

Alas, harvest past, it was too late

To save those who had gone to a Christless grave...

Credit: Excerpt from

Many Are Called 

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills