I want to speak straight to your heart, because I know what it feels like to look back and regret a missed opportunity. I’ve lived through it. There were times in my life, before I became a child of God, when I missed chances for something better. And yes, sometimes I got what I wanted, but there were moments when I couldn’t help but say to myself, “If only I had…”

That’s why I need to remind you today: You must redeem your time. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16 that time is precious. It’s not just valuable, it’s fleeting. The Bible compares it to a vapor. It’s here, and then it’s gone. And friend, once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

So let me walk you through a few powerful examples from God’s Word, real people, real missed opportunities, that serve as a warning for you and for me.

Adam and Eve—They had everything. God placed them in a perfect, sin-free world where He personally provided for all their needs. Their only job was to care for it. But they gave in to temptation. They listened to the serpent. They lost the chance to live in a world untouched by sin. Can you imagine living in a place like that? But they lost it… because of one choice.

The people in Noah’s day—The world had become so evil, so corrupted, that God brought a flood to cleanse it. And yet, in the middle of that darkness, Noah stood as a righteous man, a preacher of righteousness. He warned the people. He used his opportunity. But they didn’t listen. And their chance to be saved was washed away in the flood.

The thief on the cross—Two men hung next to Jesus. One mocked Him. One believed. The first thief lost his last opportunity to turn to the Lord. The other, he seized the moment. And Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Don’t tell yourself there’ll always be another chance. You don’t know if there will.

Felix in Acts 24—He heard Paul speak about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. The truth hit him so hard that the Bible says he was afraid. But instead of responding, he pushed it off. He said, “When I have a convenient time, I’ll call for you.” But you know what? That convenient time never came. And Felix faded into history, lost, not because he never heard the truth, but because he ignored it.

Let me tell you plainly: There are some opportunities you and I cannot afford to miss.

You cannot afford to miss the opportunity for salvation. You don’t know when the Lord will return. You don’t know if you’ll make it through tonight. The only guaranteed moment you have is right now.

You cannot afford to miss the opportunity to raise your children in the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 commands fathers to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Some of you have done that, and your children still fell away. But if you gave them the truth, then you gave them the tools. Don’t neglect that responsibility.

Look at Eli in 1 Samuel 2. He knew what his sons were doing was evil, and he didn’t restrain them. In chapter 3, God pronounced judgment on Eli’s house, because he knew and didn’t act. As a parent, I can’t let that be my story. And neither can you.

You cannot afford to miss the opportunity to serve the Lord. Jesus said in Mark 8:34-38 that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. What good is it if I gain everything this world offers, but I lose my soul in the process? If I’m ashamed of Him now, He’ll be ashamed of me when He returns.

You cannot afford to miss the opportunity to speak for the Lord. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave the Great Commission, not just to His apostles, but to all who would follow Him. That includes you. If you’re a disciple of Christ, it’s your job to make more disciples. You can’t stay silent. You can’t wait for someone else to do it. God has placed people in your life for a reason. Don’t walk past the opportunity.

So ask yourself: Am I redeeming the time?
Am I using the time God has given me in a way that honors Him? Am I living for His purpose, or just passing the days?

If you’re not a Christian, let me tell you what the Bible says you must do. You need to hear the gospel. You need to believe it. That belief should lead you to repent—not just feeling sorry, but changing your heart and your direction. You need to confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And then, you need to be baptized, fully immersed, for the remission of your sins. That’s when you become a new creature. That’s when your past is wiped clean.

And after that? You live faithfully. You grow. You serve. You speak. You redeem the time.

But maybe you’ve already done that. Maybe you’ve obeyed the gospel and taken those steps… but you’ve let opportunities slip through your fingers. Maybe you’ve drifted. Maybe you’ve said something or done something you know isn’t right. Listen, there’s still time. You can repent. You can ask for forgiveness. Whether you need to come forward publicly or go to God privately, the door is still open. But don’t wait. Don’t delay.

Today is your opportunity.

Will you redeem your time? Will you follow God? Will you answer His call?