The whole of the Bible is the Word of God. All 39 books of the Old Testament and all 27 books of the New Testament are equally inspired by God and every bit as much the Word of God as any other book of the Bible. As such, one section is not more of God than another, but God does use different portions of His Word to speak specifically to people in times and circumstances. I believe that Ephesians 5: 15-17 is a passage that contains an important exhortation for our world today. It is equally true for every time and place, but it seems to have special application for now.
“So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
- Ephesians 5:15-17
A Time Where Evil Abounds
These three verses from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus are striking for us today. They are weighty in my heart as I read them in the context of today’s world. Many factors make these words very pointed for our circumstances. We are living in a time in which evil abounds. This is not different than any other time in history, but evil does seem to be advancing in our day. The institution of the family is under attack as perhaps never before. Not only are there the pressures and temptations that have always been a challenge, but the very structures of the family as God designed it are now being attacked. In fact, there is an attack on the design of creation, impacting the family structures all the more. The prevailing attitudes toward same-sex relationships and gender identity (or confusion) profoundly impact the design for the family that God created. Even within the confines of the institutional church, there is a move away from the truth of God’s Word, which compounds the problems for the family.
Be Careful and Wise
We are also seeing a disregard for God’s Word become a disdain for God’s Word. We are seeing a growing worldview that is not only unchristian but anti-Christian. Christian persecution is rising worldwide, and here in the U.S., anti-Christian sentiment is growing rapidly. We are entering a season in which basic, long-held Christian orthodoxy is considered “hate speech” and where legislation is being considered to usurp the religious freedoms we have had since the founding of the nation. All of this, in addition to the growing access to pornography, the celebration of abortion, the legalization of various drugs, and the growing public acceptance of deviant lifestyles, make it clear that indeed, “the days are evil.”
These verses from Ephesians 5 make it clear as to how we are to live in such days. Four admonitions are critical for us to know. These are always true but are also truths that we need to be especially aware of in light of current realities.
Be careful how you live.
Be wise, not foolish.
Understand what God wants.
Make the most of your time.
Wisdom comes from God
We are told to be wise and not foolish. Wisdom comes from God, and we are told to ask God for wisdom whenever we need it. We must approach life prayerfully, take every day, every decision, every circumstance to Him, and be wise and understand what God wants. We also rely on His unchanging Word to help us know His will, and we must desire His will over the popular views of society. These are ways in which we can be careful as to how we live. Though living randomly or carelessly is never best, in days when evil abounds, it is crucial to be careful how we live.
Finally, we must make the most of our time, or, literally translated, “redeem the time.” We must look for every opportunity to bring redemption into the circumstances around us. We must be focused on the harvest field of God. We must work while it is day, because we know, and can even see, that the night is coming when no one can work. We must not grow weary in doing good, and we must stand firm in the evil day. What a wonderful opportunity to glorify God! What a time to be the Church! Let’s be faithful, knowing that He is faithful.
Data and information are essential for knowing how effective your organization or ministry is, but knowing the right data to measure is the most important key to your success.