“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).

Time is a very precious commodity—here one minute, gone the next! It is said that Jonathan Edwards wrote in his diary at the age of twenty: “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.” If we were to paraphrase “redeeming the time,” it would probably come out something like this: “Making wise use of the opportunities we are given.” This, of course, transcends every area of our Christian experience.

We must take advantage of the opportunities which come our way to tell others about the Mystery. You would be amazed at the number who have written us to share how their search for the truth came to an end when one of our “grace people” opened Paul’s gospel to them. The letters usually go something like this: “I sensed there was something more, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it until I heard the Word, rightly divided!” We tend to rationalize that our Christian friends are so entrenched in denominationalism that they would never receive this message, even if we did tell them. This may be true, but how many opportunities have been passed by due to our reluctance to open our mouth boldly to make known the Mystery?

Perhaps we need to write these words anew on the tablets of our hearts:

“Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15,16).

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel… that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:18-20).

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:5-6).

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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