How Much Time Left For Us?

The most dangerous lie is not that God doesn’t exist, but that we can always seek Him tomorrow. Procrastination is the thief of eternity.

Ephesians 5:15–16

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Time is one of God's greatest gifts, yet it is the only resource we can never recover. Money can be earned again. Health may improve. Relationships can be restored. But yesterday is gone forever.

Paul writes these words from prison. Ironically, a man behind bars teaches free people how to live wisely. Though confined physically, Paul refuses to waste his life. He understands that wisdom is not determined by circumstances but by how faithfully we use the opportunities God places before us.

In King James version, verse 16 says, ‘Redeeming the time’.

To "redeem the time" means to aggressively buy back your fleeting, God-given opportunities from the distractions and evils of the world.

Today, we are going to look at three biblical principles to help us stop wasting our days and start fulfilling our God-given purpose:

1. Time Is God’s Gift

Time is one of God's greatest gifts. Unlike money or possessions, time cannot be saved, borrowed, or recovered once it has passed. Every person receives the same 24 hours (86,400 seconds) each day, yet how we use those hours shapes our character, our relationships, and our service to God.

Everything God created has value, but not everything has equal value. Gold is precious because it is rare. Diamonds are precious because they are difficult to obtain. Yet there is something even more valuable than gold, silver, or diamonds—time.

Money lost can be earned again.

Health lost may sometimes be restored.

Friendships broken may be reconciled.

But time, once gone, never returns.

How many of us have seen ‘Sandglass’ or ‘Sand clock’? We see, every second passes, sand in the upper glass bulb is reducing!

Every second that passes becomes history. God has given each of us a fixed number of days, but He has not revealed how many they are. Therefore, every moment becomes important.

The tragedy of life is not merely dying young. The greater tragedy is living long without purpose.

The Bible calls believers not merely to spend time but to value it as a sacred trust.

The Bible teaches that our lives are in God's hands.

In Psalm 90:12, we read

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Numbering Our Days Is Not Counting Time—It Is Valuing Time.

He teaches us to value every day because every day is limited.

The verse does not say:

‘Teach us to number our days so we become successful.’

Not ‘...so we become wealthy’, Nor ‘..so we become famous.’

It says: "...that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Anything unlimited becomes ordinary. We know air and water are precious. But there are plenty so we don’t value them sufficiently.

Anything limited becomes precious, time is precious because it is limited!

Recognizing that our days are limited helps us live wisely. Every sunrise is another opportunity to glorify God, encourage others, and grow in faith.

There are prayers we readily pray: ‘Lord, bless me’, ‘Lord, protect my family.’, ‘Lord, provide for my needs.’

But there is one prayer that most people instinctively avoid:

"Teach us to number our days."

Why? Because this prayer forces us to confront the one reality we spend much of our lives trying to ignore—our mortality.

We live in a culture that celebrates youth, promises endless possibilities, and encourages us to believe there will always be another tomorrow. But the Bible speaks differently.

The one who wrote this psalm was Moses, a man who had watched an entire generation die in the wilderness because of unbelief. He had buried friends, family, and thousands of Israelites. Every sunrise meant another funeral. Every passing year reminded him that human life is astonishingly brief.

Psalm 90 is not merely about death but is about learning how to live.

We often think our lives are the centre of history.

Scripture reminds us we are only one page in God's eternal story.

Our lives exist because God ordained them.

Life feels long when you are young.

It feels surprisingly short when you look backward.

Children become adults.

Parents become elderly.

Strong bodies weaken.

Friends disappear.

Tomorrows become yesterdays unnoticeably!

Entire decades pass almost unnoticed.

We imagine life as a mountain we are climbing.

One day we realize we are descending to the other side.

This is not pessimism, It is reality.

The Bible never asks us to pretend death does not exist.

Instead, it teaches us that remembering death makes life more meaningful.

In Psalms 31:15 we read..

"My times are in Your hand."

Notice, David did not say my future is in God's hand.

He said my times.

Every season...

Every opportunity...

Every trial...

Every blessing...

Every breath is held by God.

Time is not something we own.

It is something God lends.

We often speak about "my time."

Biblically, there is no such thing.

It is God's time entrusted to us.

A professor stood before his class with a large glass jar. He filled it to the top with large rocks and asked if the jar was full. The students said yes. He then poured a box of small pebbles into the jar, shaking it so they rolled into the open spaces between the rocks. Again, he asked if it was full, and they agreed it was. Finally, he poured sand into the jar, which filled all the remaining empty spaces.

The jar represents your life. The large rocks are the truly important things—your relationship with God, your family, your calling. The pebbles are other things that matter, like your job or house. The sand is everything else—the minor distractions, social media, and entertainment. If you pour the sand into the jar first, there will be no room for the rocks. To redeem the time, you must put the big rocks in first.

Ask every day, ‘Lord, how can I use today for Your glory?’

2. Time Must Be Used Wisely

Ephesians 5:15–16 urges believers to "make the most of every opportunity."

The phrase means to redeem the time—to make every moment count. Wise people do not simply stay busy; they focus on what truly matters.

When you give someone money, you may earn more tomorrow.

When you give someone time, you have given a portion of your life.

Christ demonstrated His love by giving His life—which was His time on earth.

The greatest sacrifice was not simply His death.

It was His entire earthly life poured out for us.

Remember That Time Is Short

James 4:14 says:

"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Life passes quickly. One day we will stand before God and give an account of how we used the opportunities He entrusted to us.

The question is not how long we live but how faithfully we live.

Ask yourself:

Am I investing my time in eternal things?

Am I spending enough time with God?

Am I using my gifts to serve others?

Avoid Wasting Time

Satan's Greatest Strategy Is Often Not Destruction but Distraction.

Many things in this world steal our attention. Entertainment, distractions, and unnecessary worries can quietly consume the hours God has given us.

The enemy knows: If he cannot make you evil, he will make you busy.

The devil rarely says, ‘Don't follow Christ.’

He often says, ‘Tomorrow.’

The world makes us busy enough not to pray, busy enough not to study Scripture, busy enough not to witness.

Busy enough not to hear God's voice.

This is why Ephesians says: "Redeem the time."

A classic fable tells of three apprentice demons coming to Earth to finish their training. They meet with Satan to discuss their plans to deceive humanity. The first says, "I will tell them there is no God." Satan replies, "That will not work; their conscience tells them there is a Creator." The second says, "I will tell them there is no hell." Satan shakes his head, "No, they inherently fear judgment." The third demon steps forward and says, "I will tell them there is a God, and there is a hell, but I will tell them there is plenty of time." Satan smiles and says, "Go. You will ruin millions."

The most dangerous lie is not that God doesn’t exist, but that we can always seek Him tomorrow. Procrastination is the thief of eternity.

3. Every Day Is an Investment Toward Eternity.

Make Time for What Matters Most.

Jesus Himself demonstrated a balanced life. Though surrounded by crowds and constant demands, He regularly withdrew to pray.

His example reminds us to prioritize:

Time with God.

Time with family.

Time serving others.

Time sharing the gospel.

Time for honest work and faithful stewardship.

When our priorities reflect God's priorities, our lives become fruitful.

Matthew 6:19-21

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."

The world measures success by possessions that you have.

Heaven measures your success by faithfulness you have shown in your life.

Everything we do today echoes forever in eternity.

Life feels long while we live it.

But when the earthly life is over and viewed from eternity, it is shockingly brief.

Think of:

-Moses—120 years.

-Methuselah—969 years.

-The longest modern lifespan.

Compared with eternity, they are all equally short.

This realization should not frighten us, whereas it should awaken us.

Jesus lived only about thirty-three years.

Yet no life has ever accomplished more.

Why?

Because He never wasted His Father's will.

In John 9:4, our Lord said,

"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."

Jesus understood urgency.

He knew His earthly mission had a limited time.

Every miracle.

Every sermon.

Every conversation.

Every prayer.

Every journey.

Moved Him toward the cross.

He was never rushed, yet never idle.

Never hurried, yet never late.

He lived according to God's timing.

This is a famous prayer attributed to the Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards.

“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.”

How Do We Value Time?

Valuing time means recognizing that every day is an opportunity from God. We cannot change yesterday, and tomorrow is not guaranteed, but today is a gift.

1. Put God First Every Day

Seek God before seeking the world.

The first moments of the day often determine the direction of the day.

2. Live Intentionally with a purpose

Ask yourself regularly:

Does this activity bring glory to God?

Does it help me grow spiritually?

Does it bless someone else?

3. Make Eternal Priorities Greater Than Temporary Pleasures.

Entertainment has a place.

Rest has a place.

Work has a place.

But nothing should replace communion with God.

4. Obey Promptly

Delayed obedience often becomes disobedience.

When God speaks—

Respond. 

By Pastor Renji George

Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15, Ephesians 5:15-16, James 4:14, John 4:14, John 9:4, Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 31:15, Psalm 90:12, Psalm 90, Psalms 31:15, Psalms 90:12

Sermon Topics: Eternity, Brevity Of Life, Redeeming Time, Years Of Life, Short Human Life, Count The Time