Redeeming the Time: Heaven to Gain and Hell to Shun*

      Paul referred in part to the prophet Isaiah when writing: "...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:14-17). This is an incredible truth but people miss it: "Wake up!" We are to walk in wisdom, with which God freely equips the church, and by which we redeem the time in the middle of evil days.

    Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica that we are expected to know the times and the seasons of the return of Christ although the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Just when men think they have achieved peace and safety, sudden destruction will come without escape. However, we are not to be like them as they are children of darkness. We are children of light and day: "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober...But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." (1 Thess. 5:1-11, excerpt). Jesus also sent this message to the church at Sardis: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain...for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember...how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Rev. 3:2-3). Again in Revelation, Jesus orders us to watch and keep our garments (the white linen garments of His righteousness) because He comes as a thief. (see Rev. 16:15). In both Matthew and Luke, Christ says to be ready and to watch (see Mt. 24:42-44 and Lk. 12:39-40). His return will be sudden and totally unexpected by those who remain in spiritual darkness, but we are not to be of that darkness.

     Both Peter and Jude wrote of the evil days of the end times before Christ's return with judgment. They wrote of men who were ruled, not by the Spirit of God, but by their own destructive lusts, who scoffed at the return of the Lord and the impending judgment of God against unrighteousness (see also Isa. 5:18-19). They ignore the fact that God has previously judged the whole earth by flood waters. However, this time, the judgment would come by fire. Peter and Jude warned that the words of these scoffers would cause many to be deceived. Jude wrote that there were some of whom we would have to rescue by pulling them out of the fire. (see 2 Peter 3:1-18, and Jude v. 16-23). Have we pulled anyone out of the fire lately? 

     Peter also wrote in this chapter: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up...Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless...Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own ste(a)dfastness." 

     Paul wrote to Timothy about not only scoffers but those who teach and believe the lies of demons: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Tim. 4:1-2).

      Quoting Isaiah, Jesus warned about teaching the commandments of men rather than God as doctrine (Mt. 15:9), and also about relying upon traditions while rejecting the commandments of God (Mk. 7:6-9).

       There are writers today that claim to accept Jesus but want to "cleanse" the Christian faith of things they see as outdated or unscientific. These things include the sacrificial nature of Christ's death on the cross and its importance to the relationship between God and man. Jesus warned that if possible, the very elect would be deceived by these philosophies that reject the Word of God.

     Considering all of these things, Paul wrote to his son in the Gospel, Timothy: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science so called." (1 Tim. 6:20). Peter also warned of men who twist the scriptures to their own destruction.

     Part of the deception that we see in current times is the fact that fewer and fewer people believe in either heaven or hell. Jesus, however, spoke openly of the existence of both. He told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the Leper. Both the rich man and Lazarus died, but the rich man found himself in hell, being in torments by flame. Seeing Father Abraham and Lazarus in comfort across a wide gulf, the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to him with water to sooth him in his torment. Abraham explained that the gulf that separated the two places could not be crossed. The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house to warn his five brothers so that they also would not come to the place of torment. Abraham answered the tormented rich man: "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them...if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (see Lk. 16:19-31).

     Not only do we have the sure word of scripture testifying of heaven and hell, but we have many testimonies of those who had near death experiences, who saw and experienced hell before returning to life.

     There are quotes from famous atheists who, while facing death, cried out at the torment that was reaching for them from hell. One said, "I am in flames!" Another said, "I am lost." Another said, "I am on the edge of hell!" One satanist cried out, "Oh my, what have I done?!"

     There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. The Gospel comes with a responsibility, both for the new hearers and for those who have already heard and believe. God has sent His Son and the Gospel of His Kingdom to call all to repentance. The devil is not like the cartoon character with horns and pitchfork. Hell is not a joke to be mocked and scorned. There are writings, songs, and entertainments, even involving the most popular figures, that call our children away from the knowledge of God and into witchcraft, satanism, unbelief, and the lusts of the flesh. The days are evil, and the time is to be redeemed. We are to be the children of light and day to draw others into the light.

     Jesus said, "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me."

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1/26/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at Kenneth Stevenson. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.