Lost Time
Today’s Verse:
And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. ~Numbers 6:12
There have been times when I have spoken with men and women who have reached retirement age, and some of them have said: “I wish I could relive my life. I cannot make up for the days that are lost.” It is tough when we lose a sports competition, a job, money when our investments tank, a loved one, or time that cannot be made back up. God speaks about “the days that were before shall be lost.” Let us see the impact that wrong choices and sin can have on our lives.
There is the willfulness in sin.
All sin is willful disobedience against God. God never leads anyone into sin. Sin starts when we are enticed by our lusts. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” Eve willfully chose to eat the forbidden fruit. Noah chose to get drunk. Samson chose to defile himself by going through a vineyard and touching a dead body. Judas chose to betray the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sinful decisions are always driven by our independence and willfulness.
There is the wickedness in sin.
All sin is unrighteousness. All sin is rebellion against God. Samuel told Saul that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” There is a stench associated with sin. Sin defiles us. God hates our sin. Our sins are an abomination to a holy and righteous God. The wickedness in sin separates us from God. Sin is so wicked that it must be punished by the wrath of God. We cannot treat sin lightly. It is awful, heinous, filthy, and polluting.
There is the wastefulness in sin.
God speaks about the days being lost. When the prodigal son came home after a long season of profligate living, there was mercy and forgiveness from his father. However, all the days that he lived in sin were lost and irrecoverable. Every person who has lived a period of time in sin faces the grim reality that those days were lost and irrecoverable. We can never recover the days that we lost by running with the devil’s crowd, living out our selfish lusts, and living with a bad spirit. Let us walk circumspectly and be careful to redeem the time, because the days are evil.
There is a washing for sin.
In spite of how bad sin is, I am thankful that there is a cleansing and washing for sin. David prayed, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2). The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. When we confess our sins to God, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Nazarite who sinned could have a sin atonement made for the washing of his sins. After he made a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a peace offering, he received God’s mercies and got a fresh and clean start.
Lost time cannot be regained. However, we can have God’s cleansing and get a fresh start. Live to spend the rest of your time in the will of God for your life.
Have a circumspect God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 37-39