Intro: We are told to walk circumspectly or very cautiously, carefully, in every way watchful, wary, and cautious in order to avoid danger, discern enemies before they come to close. Furthermore, its root word tells us that we should walk correctly, accurately, consistently, or perfectly. All these things are inherent in walking circumspectly, and not foolishly. Be wise. Do what is right. Be cautious about your life. This is the command.

The cause for this command is given in verse 16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” We are to “redeem” or buy up the moments that others around us waste with carelessness. With every sense of caution, we should use our time... walking circumspectly using our days. For these days are evil. It is said that they are evil, for they are treacherous, dangerous, filled with troubles and temptations, and only the watchful and diligent have any reason to expect that they will reason good things in these days. Job 14:1-2, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” There is trouble... but the days are also evil for with all the promise the future offers the intelligent, young, capable, and talented... there is no promise of the future! Tomorrow offers so much promise, but there is no promise of tommyrot.

The days are short and dangerous. Now is the time to walk circumspectly. Now is the time to wisely invest your time. Now is the time to make wise decisions. Now is the time to be vigilant against the enemies of your soul. I want to preach today on “NOW IS THE TIME”. Now is the time:

I.       For Sinners To Repent: Why is now the time?

A.      Time Is Short:

II Sam 14:14 “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person.”

          1 Chron 29:15 “...our days on the earth are as a shadow”

Ps 39:4-5 “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.”

Ps 103:14-16 “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.”

Prov 27:1 “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

1 Peter 1:24 “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.”

B.      Judgment Is Sure: Hebrews 9:27, Ecc 12:13-14

C.      Call Of The Spirit: Gen 6:3, John 6:44, You are not promised that you can get right when you get ready. Jesus said in Matthew 3:2, “Reopent fopr the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

II.      For Saints To Assemble: Hebrews 10:25,“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” We assemble for three major purposes:

A.      Bring Glory To God: I Cor 10:31, “...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This is applicable to all parts of our lives, but it was specifically given as a command to a church who was using their services as a time to bring attention to themselves. We are here to glorify God. Brethren, we have met to worship!

B.      Be Fed Of The Word: 1 Peter 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” We are here to be fed of the Word of God. Christ commanded Peter to feed the lambs and the sheep. This is the feed lot. There is no sheep food at the worldly venues; it is at the church.

C.      Believers To Fellowship: Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” When these people on Pentecost got saved, they wanted to be with the people of God. Paul understood the importance of fellowship with God’s people and expressed it in Phillipians 1:3-5, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

III.    For Servants To Be Vigilant: Like the servants of the master in Matthew 25 in the parable of the talents, we have been assigned

A.      A Task: Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8

B.      A Talent: Rom 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” Eccl 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

C.      A Time: We do not have forever. Matt 24:44, “In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” We better work while it is day, fo the night cometh when no man can work (John 9:4).

Conclusion: We are only here for a short while. Today could be the day Jesus comes for the church. Or it could just be the day he comes for you. The gas may be in the hearse that will carry you to the cemetery. The casket you will be buried in may be at the funeral home today. You may be wearing the suit of clothes in which you will die. You may never see the sunlight after this invitation. The breath in your lungs may be your last. You are one heartbeat away from standing before God just as you are. Are you pleased to meet him like that? Are you satisfied with your life just like it is? While it do to die by? NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!