Not At Home In This World!

                                        NOT AT HOME IN THIS WORLD!

 

            Imagine walking through a busy shopping mall with loud music and people carrying big shopping bags full of merchandise. You see greed in people’s eyes, coveting and wanting to buy the latest and trendiest fashion clothing or electronic gadgets, often on credit. You are somehow turned off by all that glitter, glamor, and people hoarding things. You feel sad and not at home in that shopping mall. Some of you may feel that way; why do you feel that way?

            I feel overwhelmed and out of place when I go to a shopping mall. You may think I am strange, and maybe I am when shopping. Not only with shopping, but I also carry values and live by Biblical principles that differ from those of my extended family, friends, and colleagues.

            A tourist once traveled through the area where the famed late 19^th-century Rabbi Hofetz Chaim lived. Being a great admirer of the Rabbi, he inquired whether he could visit him at his home. He soon got a reply that he was welcome to visit anytime. The young tourist thereafter arrived at the Rabbi’s home with much excitement.

            Upon reaching the simple one-roomed house, he was asked to enter. Upon entering, to his amazement, he saw only a table, a lamp, and a cot, besides many books, inside the house. Surprised by what he saw, the tourist asked, “Rabbi, where is the rest of your furniture?” Rabbi Chaim calmly replied, “Where is yours?” Puzzled by the Rabbi’s response, the tourist replied, “My furniture? But I’m only a visitor here.” The wise Rabbi then replied, “So am I.”

            The Rabbi’s statement and his value system are counter-cultural. In a consumer society where people think they must own everything they see on the TV in the market, a Rabbi simplified life, realizing that he was just a tourist in the land. This Rabbi emulated the simple and sober lifestyle of his Jewish ancestors. In I Peter 2:11-12, the Apostle Peter has a message for every born-again Christian everywhere: that we are Not At Home In This World. We are to live like foreigners and exiles passing through this World to our Eternal Home called Heaven.

 

Background to the First Letter Of Peter

            Peter’s first letter addressed the Jewish believers scattered among the five Roman provinces. The occasion was persecution in the area, and the letter tries to encourage and equip believers for the difficult times ahead. Though there was no empire-wide persecution of the believers until Decius (A.D. 249-51), the local ones could be severe. One of the worst persecutions known to have struck the early church took place early in the second century in Bithynia, one of the provinces in which I Peter was written.

            This was how Peter opened his letter. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, I Peter 1:1, “To God’s elect, exiles (aliens, NASB, foreigners, NLT),  scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” NIV. The status of the Jewish believers at that time was one of resident aliens. They were away from their homeland. They lived among people whose customs and rituals were strange and different to them and vice versa.

 

I. God’s People Are  Foreigners and Exiles In This World.

            At the beginning of his letter, Peter establishes the current status of all God’s people or the Elect of all times: they are foreigners and exiles in this World. If you are a born-again Christian who belongs to God’s Kingdom, you feel out of place, and people may perceive you as strange and, at times, even hate you because of your Christian convictions and lifestyle.

 

            This status of being foreigners and exiles is not a new phenomenon. This theme runs through the whole Bible. If you look through the OT, God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, lived in pagan lands on their way to God’s promised land, Canaan, for them and their descendants. As they lived as foreigners and strangers, God gave them specific instructions. Deu 4:5-9 “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.

            Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Peter urges believers of all times to live as foreigners and strangers in this World. What would that entail?

 

II. Waging War Against Our Sinful Desires.

            I Peter 2:11-12, “Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans (your unbelieving neighbors) NLT that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

            The exact status that applied to ancient Israel and the first-century Jewish believers applies to us today. We, too, are foreigners and exiles in this World. As they were warned not to follow the pagan gods or learn the ways of the nations they were passing through, similarly, we are not to blend in with the ungodly society and follow its ways.

            Peter’s warning for us today is to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against our souls. Since deceiving Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, our arch-enemy has declared war against human souls. Satan’s primary weapon against human beings, mainly God’s children, is one simple three-letter word: SIN. If he could get God’s people to live sinful lives, he would win the war. What provision did God make for his believers to succeed? The Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit aids us in waging war against our sinful desires. We will learn about the Holy Spirit’s work in believers’ lives later. For now, we should know that we can only abstain from sinful desires and win the war not by our human will but by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

 

III. Not At Home In This World

            As foreigners, exiles, or sojourners, we are not at home in this World. A true believer in Christ must not be at home in this World. If you feel at home, in other words, you live like just everybody else, which means you have compromised your faith, perhaps not even born again.      Why do we feel that we are not at home in this World? Because this is what Jesus said of us. John 17:16, “They are not of the World any more than I am of the World.” As believers, we should never forget that we belong to Jesus and that this World is not our home. Peter urged his believers to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives in this ungodly society.

            According to Psalm 14:3, “All have turned away, all have become corrupt; no one does good, not even one.” If all have become corrupt, how can anyone be good and do good? Peter’s call to live a good life is not directed at everyone but at those who are saved, born-again Christians. We don’t do good works to be saved, but we do good works because we are saved. What does this good life consist of in this ungodly society? We can only be and do good as the Holy Spirit empowers us. Goodness is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

            A spirit-filled Christian is equipped to lead a good life. A good person loves the Lord and loves his neighbor as he loves himself. Living a good life is living with integrity and honesty in all our dealings. A good person selflessly acts on behalf of others. Their speech is seasoned with salt. They avoid lying and ill-will toward others; instead, they speak the truth in love. They love their spouses if they are married, and if they have children, raise them in the fear of God.

            A good person is generous and kind to the poor, widows, and orphans. They are compassionate and kind to foreigners and strangers. To summarize, a good life is centered on Christ and His love. When we do good to others, people will glory God by seeing our good works on the day He visits us. May the Holy Spirit help us be and do all the good we can to others until Christ returns. 

 

 

           

 

What Kind Of People Should We Be?

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE SHOULD WE BE?

            In 2021, the Chicago Maroon, the independent student newspaper of the University of Chicago, published a story titled "Is This the End of the World?" in which authors Milutin Gjaja and Luara Gersony trace the origin of the Doomsday Clock—a warning symbol of global catastrophe. On the Doomsday Clock, midnight symbolizes the ultimate doom, the end of humanity. The first cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 1947 showed the Clock's hands at seven minutes to midnight. Over the years, those hands have sometimes moved closer to midnight and sometimes farther away, based on experts' assessment.

            The Clock moved to two minutes before midnight in 1953  after the development of the hydrogen bomb and swung to seventeen minutes before midnight at the end of the Cold War in 1991. Gjaja and Gersony listed numerous threats to humanity: a global pandemic, wildfires, hurricanes, climate change, and even swarms of locusts "of Biblical proportions" that decimated crops in East Africa. These disasters seemed to explode at the beginning of the 2020s.[1]

            In 2023, due to the dangers of war in Ukraine, "The Clock now stands at 90 seconds to midnight—the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been.[2]  Does that mean in 90 seconds, the beautiful world we now call our home will be destroyed by a worldwide catastrophe? The scientists and the economists are observing with awe what the Biblical prophets have long predicted unfolding right in front of our eyes. The end of the world is much closer than we think.

            Last week, we looked at what the Judgment Day would bring about for the inhabitants of the Earth. Today, we will explore the Apostle Peter's certain convictions and challenges. We can be confident that this world we live in will one day come to an end. This world is not our ultimate home. In light of that, "What Kind Of People Should We Be? II Peter 3:10-14.

            Michael Yousuff, in his book Is The End Near? notes, "In view of these truths, there is no greater test of the genuineness of our faith than our preparedness for His return. That preparedness should be fully displayed in how we live our lives daily." We must have our spiritual luggage packed and ready to depart from this planet. We must be busy serving God, so whether we leave this life today or decades hence makes no difference."[3] The Apostle Peter lays out a two-way path for the believers to follow as they wait for Jesus Christ's second coming.

I. A Pathway of Holiness

            Vs. 11, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." This scripture is laden with end-time theology. We will experience the inevitable destruction of the world. The imminent and glorious return of Jesus Christ. A two-way of living for believers everywhere as they look forward to the second coming of Christ.

            The book's title, "The Hole In Our Holiness," caught my attention. The hole in our holiness, Kevin Deyoung explains, is that "we don't really care much about it. Passionate exhortation to pursue gospel-driven holiness is barely heard in most of our churches. It is not that we don't talk about sin or encourage decent behavior. Too many sermons are basically self-help on becoming a better you. That's moralism, and it's not helpful." He further noted this:

            J.C Ryle, a nineteenth-century Bishop of Liverpool, was right: "We must be holy because this one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world…Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin.

            He does—more he breaks its power." This explains why so many believers struggle in their faith: We focus on bettering ourselves, forgetting that God chose us in Christ so that we should be holy and blameless.

            In I Peter 1:13-16, Peter writes, "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Let's look at God's holiness first. What does that mean? God is holy.

            He is pure and perfect in all of his ways, and there is no trace of sin in Him. Holiness is what separates our God, Jehovah, from all other false gods. God's holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes. What does it mean for us to be holy? The Hebrew and Greek words for holy means selected, separated, sacred, pure, and consecrated.

            When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and 19, he instructed them to be distinct or separate from other pagan nations around them and live by His commandments to govern their lives. Israel is God's chosen nation, and God has set it apart from all other groups of people. When they live by God's standards, the world would know they belonged to Him.

            Peter repeated those words from Leviticus specifically to believers. As believers, we need to be "set apart" from the world unto the Lord. We must live by God's standards, not the world's. God isn't calling us to be perfect but to be different from the world. Peter reminded the believers, Peter 2: 9-10, that we are a holy nation. It is a fact.

            We are set apart from the world unto God and His purposes. We belong to God. How will we live as people belonging to God in the light of Christ's return? I Peter 2:11, "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires. Live such good lives so that people may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Living holy lives means that we are not to blend into the culture. Instead, we are to influence it by living according to God's standards of righteousness, love, and kindness. Do people see us as we belong to Christ?

II. A Pathway of Godliness.

            As with holiness, godliness is not a suggestion but a command for Christians. David Jeremiah notes, "Godliness is a fruitful, obedient Christian life."[4] Holiness is our purification efforts to please God. Godliness expresses that sanctified life in doing good works that bring glory to God and bless people. Godliness proves that we are saved and belong to God.

            Godly people exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Godly people reach out to the poor, the orphans, and the widows because it pleases God. Though Peter commands all believers to live godly, it is even more pertinent to Christian leaders. Out of fifteen references to godliness in the NT, twelve are in the three short letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus. If we are going to lead effectively, we must learn to walk with God.

            No one by birth inherits godliness. It is something acquired by effort and much training. Peter urged believers to make every effort to add godliness to their faith. (II Peter 1:5-7). Timothy impressed his congregants with the importance of training in godliness. "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 

 

            For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." I Timothy 4:7-8. Personal worship of God and excelling in good works will enable us to live holy and godly lives. Peter urges all believers to live such holy and godly lives because we belong to a Holy God, and one day, we will live with Him in Heaven, where no unholy thing will ever enter. We believers don't view the end-time prophecies with fear but with hope. How are you preparing yourselves to meet Jesus?

           

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[1] Michael Youssef, Is the End Near? Page2-3

[2] https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/2023-doomsday-clock-statement/

[3] Michael Youssef, Is the End Near? Pages 17-18

 

[4] https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-is godliness/#:~:text=That%20means%20communing%20with%20Him,is%20the%20marriage%20of%20affections. 

The End Times

                                                             THE END TIMES

 

              The New Year started horrifically for many around the world. It is as if nature is going out of control, unleashing its fury upon the inhabitants of the Earth. "A strong earthquake of 7.1 magnitude killed at least 126 people in Tibet on January 7, and left many others trapped as dozens of aftershocks shook the region of western China and across the border in Nepal."[1] Four major wildfires raged across Los Angeles County this past week. At least 10 people have died, and Tens of thousands have been urged to flee. The coastal Palisades fire destroyed whole neighborhoods. As many as 10,000 structures have been destroyed, including schools, restaurants, homes, and churches.[2] Towns may have been gone, but communities remain.

              A winter storm blasted several cities from Texas to the Carolinas as if the fires were insufficient. It was their most significant winter storm in several years as snow fell from the Rockies to the East Coast."[3] During these devastating fires and winter storms, several lives were lost, and vast amounts of structural property and natural resources were destroyed.

            We heard BIG words like "Apocalypse, Armageddon,  Dooms Day, End of the World, etc." I wonder whether the journalists or the public who use such words grasp the meaning of these words. Undoubtedly, the Earth is spinning out of control, the climate is going wild, and catastrophic events are happening frequently and with greater intensity than ever before.

            Is this the End of the World, or the End is nearing? What does the Bible say about The End Times and their actual impact? How could the Bible-believing Christians prepare themselves and others as we look forward to the second coming of Christ? II Peter 3:10-14.

I. What does the Bible Say about the End Times?

             In the Bible, we find several verses about the end times or the last days of the Earth. The study of End-times theology is called "Eschatology.” Many Old and New Testament passages speak of the prophecies about the End Times using phrases like “The Day of the Lord, That Day, or The great and dreadful day of the Lord. How do we read these phrases?

            Most people associate the day of the Lord with a period or a special day that will occur when God's will and purpose for His world and humanity will be fulfilled. Some believe that the day of the Lord will be longer than a single day when Christ will reign throughout the world before He cleanses heaven and Earth in preparation for the eternal state of all humanity."            

            The OT prophets talked about the End Times and warned people to prepare themselves to face God's Judgment Day. This was how the OT prophets described the End Times: Is 2:12, “The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (they will be humbled)," Is13:6-7," Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, and every heart will melt with fear."   Ezk 30:3, "For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations." Joel 1:15, Alas, for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.” Amos 5:18-20, “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light.”

            In the Palisades fire, several houses were destroyed in one neighborhood, except one. A reporter asked a neighbor about that house, and he said, “God touched it.” When the reporter asked about the rest of the houses that were burned up, he said, “God did not care about us.” Does that mean those in that house were more righteous than the others? We don’t know. But we do know how God will judge the righteous and the wicked on Judgment Day.

            If you are arrogant and live according to your terms, you better heed Prophet Malachi’s End Time warning, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day, the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed roots, branches, and all.” But if you fear the Lord, you have nothing to worry.“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”Malachi 4:1-2

            Though the OT prophets prophesied these prophecies thousands of years ago, we can sense the imminence, nearness, and expectation of the Day of The Lord in their generation. By entering the Earth for the first time over 2000 years ago, Jesus set the final stage to fulfill the End Time prophecies. Jesus’ first message was, “The time has come, he said, “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” Mk 1:15.

            Towards the End of His ministry, he told His disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you so you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-3. Many believers eagerly await Christ’s return, but when will he return?

II. What are the Signs of The End Times?

            Like us, the disciples of Jesus were curious to know when Jesus would return, so they asked him privately, Matt 24:3, “Tell us, they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the End of the age? He told them to watch out for those who deceive God’s people, false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, unrest among the nations, famines, Earthquakes, an increase of wickedness, and people’s love growing cold. Are we seeing all these signs in our time? Yes! But all these are just the beginning, and the End is yet to come.

            He also said, “Immediately after the distress of those days, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29. When will Christ return and the End of the age happens?

III. The Timing of Christ’s Return

            Thousands of years have passed between the OT prophecies and Jesus’ promise of His imminent return. Naturally, that would allow scoffers to scoff at those anxiously and expectantly waiting for Christ’s return, asking where this promised return is. That was the context of Peter’s second letter. Scoffers ridiculed the believers, saying, “Where is this coming, he promised?

            Peter encouraged his weary followers of Christ, saying, “Do not forget this one thing, dear Friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” II Peter 3: 8-9. Then, he says when and how the Lord will return. “But the Day of The Lord will come like a thief.” As we never know when a thief might break in and steal, we don’t know when Christ will return to Earth for the second time. This metaphor is consistent with what Jesus himself said about his return. “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” Matt 24:36

            No one knows when Jesus will return, but we are given several warnings and devastating clues regarding what will happen before he returns. Jesus may come back when you least expect, so be alert and ready for his return. All that we see, the wars, the snow storms, famines, earthquakes, unquenchable fires, and uncontainable evil, are only a preview of what is to come on that dreadful day. Since everything will be destroyed that day, Peter asks What kind of people we ought to be? We will learn about it next week.

 

           

 

 

 

           

 

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[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earthquake-tibet-china-deaths-damage/

[2] https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html

[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/09/winter-storm-forecast-central-southern-eastern-cities-snow/

Make The Most Of Every Opportunity

                                      MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

What Happens in One Minute Around the World?

The following 10 things will happen around the world every 60 seconds of this new year:

• Births: Approximately 250 babies are born worldwide every minute. (Source: Worldometers)

• Deaths: Approximately 105 people die worldwide every minute. (Source: Worldometers)

• Marriages: Around 116 people get married worldwide every minute. (Source: The World Bank)

• YouTube Uploads: Approximately 500 hours of video content are uploaded to YouTube every minute. (Source: YouTube)

• Packages Delivered: Amazon delivers approximately 1,200 packages per minute. (Source: Amazon)

• Emails Sent: Approximately 200 million emails are sent worldwide every minute. (Source: Statista)

• Google Searches: Approximately 40,000 Google searches are conducted every minute. (Source: Google)

• Social Media Posts: Approximately 1.5 million social media posts are made every minute. (Source: Statista)

• Netflix Streams: Approximately 100 million minutes of content are streamed on Netflix every minute. (Source: Netflix)

• Twitter Tweets: Approximately 500,000 tweets are sent every minute. (Source: Twitter)

Note: These statistics are approximate and can vary based on various factors.[1]

            These statistics tell us how much time people spend consuming social media posts and entertainment and acquiring things. Do we become any wiser and our lives become better because of all that consumption? One common commodity we all have is time. We all are given the same amount of 24 hrs daily. How we use or abuse our time indicates who we are as people.

            How are we going to spend those precious minutes and days of 2025? In Ephesians 5:15-20 the Apostle Paul urges the Ephesian believers to, Make the Most of Every Opportunity.” As we begin 2025,  let us explore why we mustn’t waste time. Instead, we redeem the time. The Apostle Paul gives several commands to the Ephesian believers out of God’s Love for them—Eph 3:17-18, “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.

            Your roots will grow down into God’s Love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his Love is.” Keeping God’s Love as the backdrop, let’s explore these life-giving commands.

I. Don’t live like Fools but like those who are Wise.

            What would that be if you made only one resolution in the New Year? Could we make this command not to live like fools but like those who are wise as our New Year’s resolution? If that is your resolve, you must first understand who a fool and a wise person is. The Bible has a lot to say about fools. Biblically speaking, a fool is someone who disregards God’s word. Ecc 10:2 says, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”

            A fool is one whose wayward heart turns continually toward foolishness. “For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord.” Is 32:6.  Here is what the wise King Solomon says about fools.

           

            From the book of Proverbs: a fool hates knowledge Pr 1:22, takes no pleasure in understanding Pr 18:2, enjoys wicked schemes Pr 10:23, proclaims folly Pr 12:23, spurns a parent’s discipline Pr 15:5, speaks perversity Pr 19:1, is quick-tempered Pr 12:16 gets himself in trouble with his proud speech Pr 14:3, mocks at sin Pr 14:9, is deceitful Pr 14:8, and despises his mother Pr 15:20 A foolish child brings grief to their parents Pr 17:25; 19:13. A foolish man commits sexual immorality, Pr 6:32. A foolish woman tears down her own house Pro 14:1

           

            According to Jesus, a wise man hears God’s Word and practices what it says, like the wise man who built His house upon the Rock. Matt 7:24-27). In the New Year, we are given a fresh chance to stop living foolishly and start living wisely. It is possible to live wisely if you are resolute and intentional, like David, who said, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.” Psalm 119:97.             The more News you consume from the TV or social posts, without discretion, the more foolish you become. But you become wiser if you read and meditate on God’s Word daily. Therefore, at Hope Church, we encourage everyone to read through the Bible.

II. Make The Most Of Every Opportunity

            Paul encourages the Ephesians believers to “Make the Most of Every Opportunity, in these evil days.” (NLT). In NIV, it says, “Making the Most of Every Opportunity because the days are evil.” In KJV, it reads, “Redeeming the Time.” How much time were we given to live in this world? Twenty, fifty, seventy, or a hundred like the 39^th President Jimmy Carter lived?

            The Psalmist left the answer in God’s hands, saying, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16. “Teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

            These scriptures remind us that we don’t have unlimited time to live; we only have a brief time on this earth, and soon, we will be gone. “Live Like You Were Dying” is a song recorded by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It tells the story of a man in his early forties who learns that he has an unspecified, life-threatening illness (most likely cancer).

            The message is to live life to the fullest by doing things such as skydiving, mountain climbing, fishing, and bull riding. He also says that he became a better husband and friend. He talks about how going fishing with his father stopped being an imposition and how he finally, after reading the Bible, took a long, hard look at his life and past, giving new consideration to what he might have done differently had he had this perceptive earlier.”[2]

            While it focuses on pursuing earthly passions in the time we have left, the lyrics make an essential point. They conclude with this thought: “Someday, I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.” Paul’s message to the Ephesian believers was to make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. What did Paul mean by evil days when he gave this command?

            The evil days for believers were the uncertain days of afflictions, significant troubles, and persecution. No one knew who would become a target of persecution for their faith. Yet under such trying circumstances, they were to make the most of every opportunity and live wisely.

 

 

 

 

III. What does wise living Consist of?

            For the Ephesian believers, wise living consisted of the following: 1. They were to stop getting drunk with wine and be filled with the Holy Spirit. A recent study found that excessive alcohol consumption could lead to six types of cancer. If you drink too much alcohol, it would be wise for you to stop or reduce it by 2025.

            2. As it was mentioned in Hebrews 10:25, they were not to neglect to assemble as they saw the Lord’s day was approaching. 3. When they come together, they encourage one another by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and making music to the Lord. 4. They lived with gratefulness.” If Paul’s days were evil, how about the days we are living in today?

            What does making the most of every opportunity mean for us today in 2025? As Christians, we should live like we were dying, as Tim McGraw’s song suggested, and pursue all God has given us to do while we have time. We may never know when our time will end, but as long as there is still a day, let’s make the most of every opportunity so that we can bear fruit.

            We want to intentionally cultivate consistent patterns of reading the Bible and praying, attending Church, Joining Bible times, and Wednesday night prayer times. In the New Year, we want to give up toxic habits and develop life-giving habits. We would be wise in how we spend our day, prioritizing what would make us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially strong. You may have to cut down on social media and seek to develop healthy friendships. This means starting our day by reading God’s word and spending time in Prayer. These and more are part of living wisely by making the most of every opportunity because of the evil days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2024/december/what-happens-in-one-minute-around-world.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Like_You_Were_Dying_(song)#:~:text=%22Live%20Like%20You%20Were%20Dying,(2004)