Time is an issue in the creation/evolution controversy. In the days when the apostle Paul was teaching the Colossian Christians, the big issue was "angel stages" in the religion of gnosticism. Without millions and/or billions of years of time, the current "philosophy and vain deceit" (Col. 2:8) would fall apart. Paul's admonition to "redeem the time" (Col. 4:5) is also important to us today.

In Rev. 10:6 we read that in the next life there will be no time. But in Is. 30:8 we are taught that time will be forever. When Paul tells the Colossian Christians to "redeem the time" is he referring to time that no longer is or to time that is forever? The answer is there are two aspects to time. Time as a flow system will cease in eternity. But, time as an order system, will last forever. The very first word in the Bible is a "time" word. In Gen. 1:1 we read, "In the beginning." Perhaps the first thing God created was time. And thus He introduced an order system into the universe at the outset. "Redeeming the time" means we are to make the most of it. Time, since sin entered the universe, is short. We have a limited time to do what God has in store for us. Time can become even more precious than gold.

The manner in which time is used by evolutionists is idolatry. Along with chance and the environment, they make a god of time. When they are backed into a corner regarding their philosophy, they invoke more time, millions of years of time. We can redeem the time by renouncing such idolatry. The agnostics in Colossae were making gods of angel stages though there are no legitimate angel stages. Today many people make a god of time. In the companion book of Ephesians (5:16) we are admonished to redeem the time because the days are evil.

When we think of time, we think of stars. Thoburn Lyon, a Christian astronomer and author of Witness in the Sky and Clyde McCone, a Christian anthropologist and author of Evolutionary Time -- A Moral Issue, note that time is regulated by the heavenly bodies. According to Gen. 1:14, the second reason for which the elements in space were created is to regulate time. They are so accurate we can even determine exact dates in history from them. Theme of the book of Colossians is that Christ is to be total in our lives, and thus avoid idolatrous use of time.

Reference 29, 30

Prayer: That we may redeem the time through Christ, using time allotted to us wisely and avoiding all idolatrous use of time.