Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father in God, as you have shown to us your mercy on this Good Lord's Day morning, we pray, Father, tonight, as you have promised that we, your people, may resound in great praise for your faithfulness. For you, O God, dwell with your people, you care for your people, you love them, and you do so through your word and your spirit. Bless us tonight, O Father, in the hearing of your word, that we may take delight in it. For we, O Father, like those Gentiles who came to Jesus before his crucifixion, sir, we wish to see Jesus. Show him to us tonight. We pray through your word, O Lord. Amen. We have your copy of God's word with you this evening. If you'll please take it and turn with me to Ephesians chapter five. be looking at verses 15 and 16. This morning, having looked at Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses, the man of God, I first thought that, well, I would follow this up by having us basically tonight simply expand on the petitions that we've heard, but we already heard those. So instead, tonight, I thought With that in mind, I would turn us to Ephesians 5, which really, in a sense, does provide us, yes, with a well-balanced diet of the Old and New Testaments here on the Lord's Day, but it also shows us the consistency of Scripture. It shows us that what we heard And the oldest of all the Psalms is also something that Paul was able to communicate to the Ephesian church. That same truth that we heard in Psalm 90 verse 12, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. And so now, as we prepare to hear the Word of God read and preached, let us remember that this, in fact, is the Word of God. It is an errant and infallible. Let us hear it with great reverence and lay these truths upon our hearts as we seek to practice them in our lives with great joy. Ephesians 5, 15, and 16. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time Because the days are evil, the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever. You may be seated. If you have studied Ephesians in the past, you will recall that Paul has formally introduced us to the idea of walking. Christian life, as in that one word at the beginning of chapter 4, when he tells us, I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. And speaking to our conduct as those who believe Christ, those who are united to Him by faith, that Paul is telling us that it should be something that we understand that now being in Him and sharing His life, that His life flowing through us, abiding in Him, planted in Him, as we saw this morning, that we will be those who at the beginning of chapter 5 are imitators of God. And I want us to note that that's what Paul gives to us two commands, first beginning in verse 2, where he first tells us to walk in love. That considering that Christ is a chief example of the love of God, the embodiment of God's condescending desire to be with his people and his love, that we likewise are to seek to love one another after the same standard, which is the law of God, which Christ himself has fulfilled. But also, secondly, in verses 7 and 8, we are told that we are to walk as children of the light. That understanding that the nature of God, that our desire will be to bear the fruit of grace and truth in our lives if the Spirit works to produce within us and through us in the presence of others. That we will be those who will be a light to others. Not only through what we say, but through our lives. It will show forth Christ. But that's why finally we hear a third commandment in verse 15 that essentially tells us that we are to be those who will walk in wisdom. Meaning that the Christian's character will be defined by what defines our God and all he does. For example, in Jeremiah chapter 10 verse 21, we are told that it is he who made the earth by his power and who establishes the world by wisdom and by understanding stretches out the heavens. Notice that Jeremiah is very clearly telling us that God himself is unfolding and even, if you will, applying what he has revealed to his people of himself in all that he does in daily life. And I want us to see that because this is something that is inherently pleasing to our God. This is something that, as we've seen again in that first question of the shorter catechism that the calling of the believer is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Why? Because that's what God does. And everything that His wisdom in that He shows that forth. Now granted, we will not necessarily manifest that in the exact same way. Several of us, or many of us, will not be those who create the universe. But I do want us to understand that wisdom will enable us to respond biblically to all things and in every situation. In fact, I think one of the best examples of wisdom as it is found in Scripture, in fact, one of the things that every believer understands as far as wisdom is concerned, is that wisdom is seen in us actually believing the gospel. If you'll bear with me for a moment as I unfold that, as the Holy Spirit has enlightened our minds to understand the word of truth, it tells us that we are not only sinners and unworthy of anything, before a holy and just God, but also that he has mercifully made the way of salvation through the person and the work of Christ, so by his grace we apply that understanding by receiving Christ by faith. That salvation itself is evidence of the wisdom of God at work within our life and proof, yes, of even what we hear in 1 Timothy, The Word of God is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. And I think that that's an important thing because as the Spirit continues to indwell us, He continues to enable us to discern in the Word all that pertains to life and godliness. Which, mind you, is not always an easy thing if we look at it on the surface. There are times where we are presented with more than one option. For example, I would present to you Proverbs 26, where we see probably one of the most confusing couplets of Proverbs that you will ever find in your life if you read them together. The first tells us in 26, four, answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him, pardon me, lest you be like him yourself. And we know that there are times where when we are trying to convince someone of the truth of our Lord and of what is right and good and wise and holy, that oftentimes we are met by someone who just wants to argue with us. Sometimes when we engage in arguments and mudslinging, the only thing that really happens as a result is, well, we lose a lot of ground and we get very, very dirty. But let us understand here, as Solomon moves on in Proverbs 26.5, that we see something very different, that we are called here, instead of answer not a fool according to his folly, here we're told, answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Now, here we see, in the very next verse, we are called to give correction to someone so that they may not continue in what they are doing. Now mind you, this is not a contradiction within scripture, nor is it a call to situational ethics. And why is that? Because this is the exact same wisdom that we see Jesus using on occasions. First, when he rebukes the Pharisees, and very harsh at times, refers to them as whitewashed tombs. Friends, that He calls them out so that they will not continue as they had, but let us also notice the same wisdom that we find with our Lord Jesus Christ when He is silent before Pilate. The wisdom, as we saw this morning, as we read through Ecclesiastes 3, 1, verses 15, that there indeed is a time to speak, and there indeed is a time to be silent. And I want us to note that this evening, brothers and sisters, that like is not always a matter of very distinct lines of right and wrong. In a world of sin, sometimes those lines are a little bit blurred. In fact, oftentimes we find that the difference is really most often between right and almost right. That they are very close and seem almost to be the same with the exception of just a few minor changes. Notice that wisdom seeks out to find what those changes are. It looks to that and considers what it sees before in this situation that is at hand and responds vividly. And that's why Paul tells us that we are to look carefully how we walk. That given spiritual discernment, the Christian is one who goes through his life with his eyes wide open. meaning that we are those who, on the one hand, will be circumspect, thoughtfully taking in what is around us in the church and in the world. It's what we hear in 1 Chronicles 12, verse 32, where we're told of the men of Issachar that they had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. that what was their obligation to do in this certain time. Now, this means that these are individuals who have looked at the landscape, both politically, both religiously, have understood that there are certain little potholes that are of varying depths that we could fall into. And coming from the Word of God, and in prayer, they have determined, here is what we need to be doing. That they were circumspect. But let us also notice that on the other hand, that we are also to do this with a degree of accuracy. Now, mind you, none of us can do it perfectly. None of us are perfectly wise. That belongs to God alone. But we do it with a degree of accuracy, meaning that we do not rely upon ourselves. But again, we evaluate all things through the lens of Scripture. In fact, if there is one of my favorite rebukes that Jesus gives to the Pharisees, Maybe that's a guilty pleasure, but honestly, it's wonderful to see how Christ works and how he thinks in response to the Pharisees who are before him. But it's found in John 7, 24, where Jesus, in hearing the Pharisees, said, stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment. Notice it's very straight to the point, but he's telling them in a sense that while you think you understand the Scriptures and what it's actually talking about, that the way you're applying it shows that you have absolutely no idea. And I ask us tonight, is our wisdom evident in the way that we live and in the decisions that we make? And is it because we are seeking the wisdom of God before actually going out and jumping when we have time to consult the Word of God? Dear friends, let us understand that while there will be many who will tell us, well, I have a spirit of wisdom, and equate that with the wisdom of God itself in total, let us understand that the spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit, never ever runs contrary to the word of God, that the two cannot be taken away no matter how many people in this world tend to think otherwise. That's actually really the sum of what I read in an article a few years ago, which was kind of a difficult one for me to even begin reading because the title of it was, is your church functionally liberal? I've still read it, but nevertheless the author, as I recall in that article, said that liberal churches that he has known are not openly hostile to the Word of God, to the Bible. They like the Bible. They like to see their pastor holding the Bible, reading from the Bible. But what makes them liberal is that the Bible alone is not what rules their church. That the Bible is revered in a way, but it is not the decisive factor. It is only one of many voices that contributes opinions and wisdom to a situation. And he ended by saying that this lack of clarity allows unbiblical ideas and behavior to begin to get traction. Dear friends, I think that that is something that we would do well to consider this evening. Because the truth, whatever form it may come to us in, or as people will tell us, truths, plural, that the truth that we apply The truth that we apply is what will determine the integrity of our wisdom. And that means that careless and negligence in considering the Word of God will in time have us prove to be what Paul calls in this passage, unwise. And I want us to see that because in the same way that Paul makes this contrast with light and darkness, these polar opposites, so he has us to see the difference between wise and unwise. And unwise refers really to an individual who is the personification of what chapters, or pardon me, verse 17 calls the fool. One who is without comprehension of salvation or anything that pertains to God. Those who live contrary to the wisdom of God because they value something temporal or something that seems best at the time, even if they have been told time and time and time again and have even seen the consequences that lead to destruction in the long run. My dear friends, notice that unwise is not something that just is exclusively the property. of the unbeliever, but sometimes it actually belongs to believers and very great believers. At times we think, well if I just follow a pattern, just do X, Y, Z, I will arrive at the desired end every time. And mind you, that is exactly correct on many occasions. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Period. That is a solid statement and following that pattern by the power of God and His Spirit is what indeed leads to salvation. We believe and God saves us as we trust in Christ. But let us also understand that every pattern does not always lead that way. In fact, I would give you the example of Moses. We saw Moses a very good example this morning and most of his are very good examples that we need to follow. But if you recall the first time that Moses was at Meribah and Massa after the people of God had left Egypt and are now going into the wilderness and the people are ready to stone him because there's no water, there's no food, we want to go back and eat on the pots of meat. Acting as if Egypt were some luxurious place that they had been before. That we remember that God says to them, strike the rock and I will allow water to flow. And we were told that all their animals and the people were completely, had enough water, all they needed. But we know at the end of the wilderness experience that they come back to the same place and Moses goes with his staff and in frustration hits the rock twice and water does pour forth. But God says, you're not going into the land because you disobeyed me. Because I didn't tell you to strike the rock as if this were something that were automatic. I told you to speak to the rock because what I'm giving to you and the wisdom that I'm providing for you and what you are to follow is not just a pattern. Our God calls us to turn to him and look to him and that's why we must hear our God and ground ourself in his word because wisdom does not belong to us. Wisdom is what defines our God and what belongs to him alone. And in all honesty this evening, I ask you, what do our lives look like? What do our patterns expose of our own lives? And are we living according to our own thoughts and ways or in accordance with what God has made known in His Word? Nor are we as serious about wisdom and the word as we should be, or do our lives have more in common with the unwise? Each of us are going to show ourselves as unwise at some point in time. We just do that. But brothers and sisters, I want you to notice here that wisdom is what our God desires for his people. You remember the plea of Psalm 94, oh fools, when will you be wise? Since God is crying out to people in this world saying, you do not have to continue to go on like you are. And the reason is because wisdom is what he will graciously provide. Isn't that what we hear in James 1 5 where he very simply reminds us a verse that we know but we forget so easily that if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given. Notice here that that's not just a vain formula. That's God telling us to come and ask of him and he will provide. Dear friends, how often in our difficulty in our just everyday decisions do we pray for wisdom? And does it embolden us that the Lord allows us to grow and to continue to walk in wisdom because he is willing to give it to us? Dear friends, I want us to see that today because this is important. And because it is, Paul goes on to give us an example of how wisdom will be evident in our lives. And secondly, we see this evening that it is particularly seen in how we use our time. Time is essential to Christian wisdom because there is a conviction here that God is not only the one who has given us time, but he is the one who has created time itself. There was a time, using that word, in that way. Notice that where time did not exist. Eternity is not time as we know it. It is not a 24 hour clock. But there was when, in that very beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the clock started. That He gave to us time. And I want us to know that much like everything that God creates, not only is there value to it, But it's also something that we can allow to slip away. And that's what Paul was having a see in verse 16 when he just blatantly tells us that the days are equal. Now mind you, that's not that one day is worse than the other. There are probably some that are kind of competing pretty hard for that, like April 15th and Monday, but. I want us to understand here that Paul gives us a dose of realism and reminds us that we live in a fallen world where sin abounds and so that we will understand that time and how we use it has a very significant influence over us. that we can use it in a sinful way, we can use it in a good way. In fact, notice the way that Paul refers to it in Galatians chapter 1 verse 4 when he says that Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father that he has delivered us from this. But we are those who continue to experience the effects of the present evil age. And that's what we heard taking us back to Psalm 90 this morning, that our day just will be filled with toil and trouble, that we will have times when we are tired and sick, when we endure burdensome labor and affliction, because at times we will lack wisdom also. And if we fail to take this into account, brothers and sisters, we will easily be led back to the familiarity of the old fickle nature, which simultaneously leads us to believe that life is only in the here and now, and that this is the way things are always going to be. Dear friends, let us not fall into that, but let us hear the words of the Patriarch Jacob in Genesis 47 and 9, where he says that few and evil have been the days of my life. 130 years he has lived, but he knew how often it was that he had been caught up in the trivial and in novelty while he had turned away from that which promotes the glory of God. I think that that's what's at the heart of what we find in Proverbs 6.10. For Solomon reminds us, little sleep and a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. And poverty will come on you like a robber and want like an armed man. And I think that the reason we need to consider the consequence of squandering time, he actually repeats this in Proverbs 24, 33. And that's the same reason why we also see Paul in Colossians 4, 5 saying, walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time. The Colossians would have received this letter, but they're hearing it again with their postmark on it because Paul wants them to understand that this is what wisdom does. That it takes advantage of opportunities that God has given in this life. And I want us to think about that for a moment because as we hear in Lamentations chapter 3 verses 22 and 23, a very familiar passage to many of us, that we're told that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, that He continues to pour these out again and again, that they are new every morning like the manna because God's faithfulness is great. But do we understand as we listen to this that grace like the manna that God has given, grace like the mercies that God has given each day are for a season. And we can be those who allow the sun to go down on them and yes, again, to let them expire. And that's not because God ceases to give. No, He gives them fresh and new every morning. But do we take into account that what God has given for His glory and for our good each morning is able to pass away because it is consumed by the peripheral? That because we give attention to things that we consider much more important at the moment. And dear friends, I think that that is good for us to remember at this year's end. Because even if it seemed like a long year, dear friends, we need to understand that when this year is over, that we will never recapture a second of it. And I can tell you that there are people that I have met in my life who have been brought to tremendous and burdensome regret by that understanding. Many are plagued by their unwise use of time as things have just slipped away. And I want you to note that yes, our coming to Christ and the forgiveness that he gives to us, that while it is the great consolation that we have eternity, that there are many who are still plagued because it doesn't make everything right. It doesn't take us back and let us do these things correctly, that the time is gone. But dear friends, wisdom. As it looks at this situation, even one that we can't do anything with, wisdom takes care to consider this so it may better use the time that God has given in the future. Times when we feel overloaded and burdened and times when we might even be bored. The Lord calls us to assess our situation in accordance with what We understand from the word and you make the best use of our time. What is the best use of our time? How do we do that? And again, remember, this is. Wisdom. It's not going to follow a solid pattern every time. For me, there are times where I am working and working and working, and I'm of the mindset that I have got to get this done, when honestly, probably the best thing for me to do is to go sit down and read something and take my mind off it, or according to my family, as they will tell you, to go and take a nap. And I hate the idea of that, but the fact is is that we can squander time by trying to fill it with just anything. Now mind you, that's just me, but it may also be you, and you would apply that in different ways. But dear friends, I want us to know that this is what's really coming out as the King James Version renders this passage as redeeming the time. Maybe you grew up with that. I know I did. That that was a good translation, very true to the original. But I think it's important because it gives to us a very important nuance. That time is to be seen as a commodity, something that we invest. In fact, Matthew Henry says that time is a talent or what we receive as a day's wage that is given by God for a good end, but can be misspent. And because Paul knows that each and every single one of us in this room today have made purchases that we regret, He literally tells us to make every effort to buy back time. Meaning that instead of continuing to throw away the time we have and what is going to be given to us, that we are to begin to salvage what we have left by using the future time wisely. And in doing that, this is how we redeem what we have lost. And I ask us tonight, are we in the practice of buying back the former days by turning from the continuing aspects of our life that we have lived in darkness so that we may hereafter live in accordance with the light of Christ? And because our God tells us in Joel chapter two, verse 25, that I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten, that this is a good and glorious promise of our God. Are we seeking to redeem the days that were once consumed in selfishness by loving others in a way that is glorifying to our God? And are we turning away from that which exalts the here and now? and makes little of our Lord and His will and His worship and His church. Because wisdom, which, as we defined earlier today, is the application of the knowledge of God in our day-to-day lives, that wisdom realizes the glorious truth that time is not just something we kill until we get to eternity. The time is a prelude to eternity. That the lives that we now live, what we do in the here and now have eternal consequences. And isn't that why when you're on the road driving, you're watching the road where you're going because you want to get where you're going. That every trip begins somewhere, but it takes us through somewhere. And the reason we take the trip and go there to begin with is because we want to arrive at the end. And I want us to see that because wise understandings of eternity are what help us to keep our perspective in the here and now. And I ask you today, is eternity something that you keep before you, looking to it on the horizon on each and every day? But more so, does it affect what you do every day? Do we look to eternity and consider our days by looking and saying that I am to use this to grow in the grace and the knowledge and the love of my Lord Jesus Christ and assurance for what he has done on my behalf? You see, many brothers and sisters do not see that until they are desperate. And I have also met others who realize that they have squandered these opportunities to prepare themselves for heaven. And for times when in this life, near the end of their lives, their faith will be terribly tested. Dear friends, do we do this? But do we also encourage the saints? As Paul tells us in Galatians 6.10, So then, as you have opportunity, as that window, no matter how small it may be, is open for you, let us do good to everyone, especially the household of faith. And are we availing ourselves of the time that we have to be a blessing to the church? Do we use time to invest in the kingdom? And no, that doesn't mean you go and become a missionary, but do you do the work that is necessary for the church in our community? Are we a part of our congregation in that way? And I will tell you much, Like your own church. Our church is very similar in Kingsport. Our community has seen a bit of a decline in recent years. And it's hard to find new members and to have people come in. But are we praying that God, by his grace, will draw his elect out of these different neighborhoods around us and make them wives of salvation by allowing them to give their life to Christ? But are we actively also involved in encouraging the future stability of the church? Much like yourself, we are low on elders and even lower on prospects. And I will tell you, as the clerk of your presbytery, that everybody in this presbytery is in the same position. But dear friends, do we use the time in prayer to pray for those and even to ask that God would prepare those who would pick up the mantle of this work when we have finished our work. My dear friends, I want us to hear that even as we heard this morning, because these are things that we need to pray. These are things that we need to come before the throne of grace and asking our God to give to us His people because we can't do this. And why? Because this is wisdom. And wisdom understands that our time does not stand still, but that it is rapidly moving towards eternity. And so as I have prayed for you and as I will continue to pray for Princeton, or it is part of my habit, as well as most of the congregations I know in this area, that we pray that we, as a people of God, will see the value of time, and wisely through this next year, that we will set our hearts on eternity. Because by setting our hearts on eternity, we gain a heart of wisdom because in doing so, we are setting our hearts on our Lord Jesus Christ. We're going towards him. Let us be wise in the route that we are taking, carefully observing the potholes and knowing what is in the way. that we may not only arrive ourselves, but bring many with us, those whom God has called. Church, pray that God will continue to bless you. Let us ask his blessing now upon us. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, the conviction that it brings, but the great comfort that we have also considered this evening. Lord, you are a God who, even though we see the end of time and we think ourselves unwise and that we have done something that cannot be undone and unpardoned. Oh, Father in God, we thank you that you have given us the promise of eternity. Turn our hearts toward it and we pray today, oh Father, As we begin and look towards even the next couple of days in the new year that will follow it. Lord, we will fix our eyes on you. And find great joy and delight in knowing that our God is working out all things in this direction. For it is to Christ we go. And to Christ we have our hope. And we pray in his name. Amen.