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Our Limited Time
Text: Ephesians
5:15-17 IBCWPM
January 28, 2004
Preacher: Pastor Jose B.
Cabajar
In the book of Job
Chapter 14:1, Job once
said, “Man that is born
of a woman is of few
days, and full of
trouble.” This verse
from the Scriptures
reminds us of the
shortness of life and
the inescapable presence
of trouble in every
man’s earthly life.
Certainly, we have a
limited life within a
limited time. We realize
that precious moments
come on our lives with a
limited time and then we
just count them a
memorable part of our
past. Our limited time
is very precious indeed!
Any man who
intelligently ponders
his unique existence
will eventually conclude
that his life is a
wonderful gift from God.
As he goes deeper in his
self-exploration, he
will become conscious of
the limited time he has.
Awareness of this will
stir his mind to look
for a better and
meaningful life. He then
asks questions to
himself what he is
living for and where he
is heading to. These
life-changing questions
will surely lead him to
ask others’ opinion
concerning life and the
true purpose of life.
Meeting the right person
will lead him to God and
coming to the saving
knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ
will entirely change his
life from vanity to a
well-lived life.
Every Christian must
be guided through the
Word of God that he may
understand the value and
joy of Christian living.
Many professing
believers seem to have
boring and unfruitful
lives because of lack of
interest and ignorance
of the Word of God.
Apostle Paul, through
his Epistle, warned the
Ephesians not to walk in
vanity but rather to be
followers of God as dear
children. In Ephesians
4:17-18 Paul wrote, This
I say therefore, and
testify in the Lord,
that ye henceforth walk
not as other Gentiles
walk, in the vanity of
their mind, Having the
understanding darkened,
being alienated from the
life of God through the
ignorance that is in
them, because of the
blindness of their
heart: Who being past
feeling have given
themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work
all uncleanness with
greediness. What a
caring warning to the
believers in Ephesus. We
firmly believe that this
warning is also the kind
of warning we need
today.
A careful and
prayerful study of
Ephesians Chapter 5 will
surely enlighten our
minds concerning new
life in Christ and the
significance of the
remaining years of our
earthly life as we serve
Him in a very limited
time.
(I)
Must Not
Be Spent In Foolishness
Ephesians 5:15
-Living in foolishness
is living in vanity
-Living in vanity is
defamation toward
the true purpose of
life
-Careless living is an
expression of one’s
unappreciative attitude
toward God-given
life and time
Every Christian must
guard himself from
foolishness and vanity
of life. We are bought
with a price, therefore,
we are not of our own,
but servants of
righteousness. We became
children of God through
faith in Christ. We
should not underestimate
the worth of our being,
but rather live
according to the blessed
plan of God. A
well-lived life and a
well-managed time are
special ways of showing
our gratitude to God for
giving us wonderful
existence and great
opportunity to serve Him
while we have our
beings.
(II)
Must Be
Well-treasured
Ephesians 5:16
-How we value time
reveals our interest
in attaining success
-How we treasure time
uncovers
our view concerning
life
-How we manage our time
exposes
our true character
A well-treasured
life is surely a
well-guarded life. How
we value our limited
time will give us a
glimpse of our future
life, and how we respond
to opportunities will
reveal our desire and
attitude toward success.
Challenge is an
invitation to success,
but our courage toward
challenges of life will
determine the kind of
success we will have in
the future. As we grow
in faith, may we grow
also in knowledge,
understanding and
wisdom. Knowing the
value of life will lead
us to wider
understanding of our
precious and limited
time, and from these
godly principles, we can
fully appreciate the
God-given opportunity to
display with wisdom the
blessed purpose of our
lives.
(III)
Must Be
Well-lived
Ephesians 5:17
-Understanding the
purpose of our God-given
life
is the key to a
well-lived life
-A well-lived life is a
life spent in the center
of God’s will
-A well-lived life is a
life filled with joy
and fulfillment
-A well-lived life gives
glory to God
Colossians 3:23-25
A
well-lived life today
will become a well-loved
story of tomorrow.
Spending the remaining
years of our lives
through serving the Lord
is very delightful to
the Him. What a blessing
to the next generation
if we are committed and
determined to use our
God-given life wisely
within a very limited
time. In just a few
moments, we will leave
our earthen vessels, but
our living testimonies
will stay from
generation to generation
as an inspiration to be
looked up for the glory
of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
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