1. THE STEWARDSHIP OF TIME EPHESIANS 5:16

2. When I was a child I laughed and wept, time crept; When as a youth I laughed and talked, time walked When I became a full grown man, time ran When older still I daily grew, time flew Soon I shall find in traveling on, time gone Time is passing at the same rate as it always has. Some day we will have to give an account of the way we spent the time God has allotted to us. Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Time has three chapters. Ephesians 5:16 Making the most of the time, because the days are evil. The attitude we have toward each is very important.

3. The Past This chapter is getting longer all the time. The link that connects us with the past is memory. Good or bad, we all have memories. We can relive the past in our memory, so in a sense the past is always ours. There are however some things in the past we should not remember if we want to happy and useful Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

4. Many let the past haunt them because of mistakes made yesterday. When we have done all we can to correct our mistakes we should forget them. Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'' I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We need to accept the forgiveness of God. We need to learn to forgive ourselves.

5. We need to forget the past but not the lessons we have learned. In a sense we can redeem the mistakes of the past by letting them teach us valuable lessons. The attitude we have toward the past will determine to a great extent how we live in the present. There is no sinner so bad that blood of Christ cannot cleanse him. I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

6. The Present God has always placed emphasis on NOW Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'' II Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit''; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?

7. It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'' How we use now is very important. We live in a busy world. Some say they are too busy for God. We have too many things that takes up the time we should allow for God. We should learn to place first things first. We are stewards of time and we will give an account to God for the way used it. Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

8. The Future This chapter of life is getting shorter and shorter. When we think about the fact that in 80 years from this day most of us will be in eternity, we are made to realize the brevity of life. We are not to spend our time lamenting the fact that our earthly existence is short, but we are to face the future with confidence. Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

9. Some live in the future by procrastination. Too many are like Felix who wanted to call for Paul when he had “a convenient time.” He was going to be all that a mortal should be Tomorrow. No one should be kinder or braver than he Tomorrow. A friend who was troubled and weary he knew, Who’d be glad of lift and needed it too; On him he would call and see what he could do Tomorrow. Each morning he stacked up letters he’d write Tomorrow Tomorrow

10. And thought of the folks he would fill with delight Tomorrow It was too bad, indeed, he was busy today, And hadn’t a minute to stop on his way; More time he would have to give others he’d say Tomorrow. The greatest of workers this man would have been Tomorrow. The world would have known him, had he ever seen Tomorrow But the fact is he died and he faded from view, And all that he left here when living was through Was a mountain of things he intended to do Tomorrow. Don’t let this be said about you.

11. We Need To Live For Today We should live as if today was the last day of our life. If something needs to be done we need to do it now. There is no reason to worry about the past or future. The person who has the proper attitude toward the past, This will not be hard as long as we make Christ the Lord of our life. Lives well today,Can face the future unafraid Christ is the only one who can: Blot out the mistakes of the past; Make life worth living today; And safely lead you into the unseen tomorrow.

12. Ephesians 5:16 Making the most of the time, because the days are evil. HOW ARE YOU USING THE TIME GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU?

13. Given by David Hamlin on December 6, 2009 pm Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.orgwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org