Redeeming Time

 

Little did I know that by reading the book for my Wednesday class, on a quiet, sunny, cold Sunday, that I would be convicted to deactivate my Facebook account. I think the straw that broke the camel's back was going on there this weekend and reading the hatred spewing onto my feed...from both sides of the political parties. Not to mention the plethora of advertisements for things I am simply not ever going to buy nor am I even remotely interested in seeing. That and the convicting words of God found in the  Scriptures in the above and below pics. 

These two Scriptures were in the chapter I was reading for class titled Eternal. It's a book (listed on my side bar) called None Like Him. Each chapter is a different attribute of God that we as humans can never attain. Yes, we can have some of His other attributes (compassion, patience, mercy, grace, love) but the ones that make God, God, we cannot. We cannot be omnipresent, or all-knowing, nor are we self-sufficient (although we're raised to believe we can be in our culture), and we definitely are not sovereign nor eternal. We are finite. God is not. He is everlasting to everlasting. We will die a human death. But if we have a saving faith in Jesus, we will live eternally in heaven. 

The chapter went on to say that we need wisdom in how to use the time with good stewardship. The quote that really jumped out at me was:

"When we invest our time in what has eternal significance, we store up treasure in heaven. This side of heaven, the only investments with eternal significance are people" (pg 79 None Like Him by Jen Wilkin, c 2016)

I have discovered that when I'm on social media platforms, I tend to  waste a lot of time. I'm not saying that if you have Facebook or Instagram, etc, that you should not. I'm saying that for myself, I need to do a better job at redeeming my time and for me, it's too tempting to log in, check out my feed and then waste time reading articles that most likely are not fact checked or articles intended to cause strife between people who are different from me. I know where I stand politically and I don't need to answer to any human for that. I answer to God and I want to really live for an Audience of One. The One to whom I want to spend my time with. I've noticed that when I'm on Facebook, I am less in the Scriptures or am praying for others less. That's just me personally.

Redeeming my time in light of the Redeemer is what one of my goals for 2025 is all about: being in His Presence in the present.  Not focused on the future and not wishing for the past. The present.  Being available to friends and family. Spending time writing devotionals and working on small group preparations via good study books. Spending time outside in His creation. 

What has eternal significance this side of heaven??

Our relationships.  

Jesus came to earth for a short time. He spent it well. His whole purpose in coming to earth as a human?

Am I going to totally delete my Facebook account?  No. I just deactivated it.  Until Easter. That will give me enough time to learn some new daily habits and get them in place before I activate that account again. I love it for keeping in touch with my college friends, my far away relatives and my friends who are scattered across the globe. I like it for my hiking group....we post a lot of great photos. 

I know some people can get on and off Facebook quickly. I'm not one of those people.  

So if you're a friend of mine on there, please know I didn't unfriend you!  I have only deactivated the account for about 6 weeks. 

I'm excited to see how God might use my time in the weeks to come as I prepare for that most holy of days when we celebrate our Risen Redeemer..the One who wants us to redeem our time for His glory.