Reluctant Retiree

A couple days ago our family was in Yosemite National Park, surrounded by majestic granite mountains and beautiful groves of trees. I asked my granddaughter if she thought that God created all things by pulling the mountains up out of the ground with His fingers or did He create the valley by scooping out of the mountains with His hand. She she shrugged because she didn’t know. But it was a trick question. In fact, the Bible tells us that God spoke creation into existence. For instance, He said, “Let there be light.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” God spoke the world into existence. As we look around and see the beauty that He created, let us be thankful and worship the Creator.

Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”

The Bible is full of stories of sending. God often sent angels to speak significant truths to people and send these people on a mission. God sent His people to the Promised Land to inhabit the land and worship Him. The Father sent His Son to earth to save us. Once we believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, He sends us to do His work and to be His voice among people. Throughout each day, we should always be seeking to understand where He is sending us and what we are sent to do.

Some surroundings or circumstances can make me instantly confused. When there is a lot of movement or noise around me, I lose focus and have trouble concentrating. It is like I am shaken out of stable thinking and enter into random thoughts.

Acts 2:25-26 says, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. When we trust in Jesus, He places us on solid ground, the rock of our salvation. Because we are held in His hands, we are secure and cannot be shaken. He gives us a glad heart and hope for each day and into eternity. Our future is established in His righteousness.

Do you have a number of started, but incomplete jobs around your house or apartment? At any one time you can walk around our place and see papers spread about, tools next to started projects, and post-it notes with to do lists. We have good intentions but can be distracted at times.

Job 23:13-14 says, “But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.” God desires to do many good things for you and through you. Since He is unchanging and cannot be turned away, He will complete His work in and through you. He never gets distracted from the work He wants to do.

In times past, when a proclamation or document was sent by a king, it was sealed by wax and the king imprinted his signet ring onto the wax. This seal guaranteed the authenticity of the document and carried the full authority of the king. We use seals today in a similar fashion on property deeds, automobile titles, notarized documents and certified mail.

Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” The believer who trusts in Jesus Christ is sealed by the Holy Spirit in God. This seal makes us secure in God forever, establishes God’s ownership of our lives, and authorizes us to carry His Word and His name into the world as His representatives. This seal can never be broken because it bears the authority of God.