Dear Christian friends:

Ephesians 5:14-20

14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have gathered here this evening to close the old year, 1986, and begin the new year, 1987! Therefore, this evening we are thinking much about the passing of time.

We hear people say, "The time flies!" They mean that time passes quickly. We all know and agree that time passes quickly. Before we realize it, our time is finished, even our life.

Our text gives us some good advice about using the time that God gives to us. Therefore, this evening let us attend to our text and consider St. Paul's admonition to us:

Often we hear people say, "I have no time." If you ask them to accept responsibility at church, some members say, "Sorry, I have no time." That is a strange thing to say! That's not really true! That's really a lie! We all have time. Last year, 1986, we all had the exact time 365 days, 24 hours each day, 8,760 hours! In 1987 God will give us again 365 days, 8,760 hours. True, if you die during 1987, you will not have that much time! Only a dead person can say, "I have no time!" The dead have no time. We all have time, the exact same time. The question is: How do I use my time? How do I spend the time God gives me? How did I use my time in 1986? How will I use my time in 1987? Did I use my time wisely or foolishly? Will I use my time in 1987 wisely or foolishly?

In our text St. Paul warns us about using our time foolishly. He says, "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, using the time wisely, because the days are evil .... Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery." Don't copy the ways of this evil world, the ways of unbelievers. You have begun this New Year's Eve right and with wisdom. You have gathered here in God's house with your Christian friends. Thank God that He has led you here tonight! But most people will not gather in God's house tonight. Some will gather at a bar or a dance hall where they can drink and perhaps get drunk and do shameful things that they should not do. Others will not get drunk, but they will not close the old year and begin the new year in Jesus's name as we are now trying to do.

We Christians can use our time wisely. The unbelievers really can't. They are spiritually dead. When they say, "I have no time," they are correct! They are dead, spiritually dead, and the spiritually dead have no time, no time for God! No time to thank, praise and serve God. They have no love for God. But we Christians do have time. We have been born again of water and the Holy Spirit! We have new birth and new life! St. Paul says in our text, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." (v. 14) In Jesus name we have received baptism, forgiveness of sins and new life. We are spiritually alive and therefore we have time, time for God. All our time, 365 days, 8,760 hours in 1987 is for God. Whether we eat or drink, or play or walk or go to church we will do that with faith in God and love for God!

In our text St. Paul says to us Christians, "Use your time wisely, don't get drunk with wine ....; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always giving thanks for every thing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (vv. 19-20) This we are doing here tonight in our worship service and by coming to the Lord's Supper. We have begun the New Year with wisdom. We are now using our time wisely.

As we progress into the New Year, 1987, let us continue to gather here in God's house each Sunday and each special holy day. Then we will have spiritual life, and if we have life, we have time, time for God, and no time for the devil! Then, also, we will know what the Lord wants us to do with our time.

In another letter St. Paul writes, "Do wisely to them that are outside the church, using the time wisely. Speak always with grace (kind heart), tell them God's Word, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:5-6) This means that we should not live the same as the unbelievers, those who are spiritually dead. But by our holy life of praise and service to God, admonish them and witness to them that they should, same as us, awake from sleep and arise from spiritual death to spiritual life! Warn them that Jesus is coming again to judge all men! Tell them that those who do not believe will go to hell! Urge them to repent and believe in Jesus Christ and be saved!

You and I are alive in Christ! We have awakened from spiritual sleep and death! We have with Jesus Christ arisen from among the dead in this world. We have time for God, but no time for the devil, and this evil world. Let us use our time wisely in 1987!

Amen