Reluctant Retiree

Have you ever noticed how things can give us joy and satisfy our hearts for but a short period of time? We enjoy the new car feel and smell for a while, until our hearts yearn for something newer and fancier. Our new home satisfies us for a period, until its features get old and our needs grow. The new job fills us with excitement until the same things that bothered us about our old job rise up in the new environment. Where can we find joy that will last?

Psalm 100:1, 4 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Joy flows to our hearts and souls from the river of thanksgiving and praise. Give thanks to God for all He has done for you and joy will fill your soul.

Occassionaly we experience something so unexpected that we call this event astonishing. It could be the majestic mountains of Yosemite or the beautiful rivers winding through a forest. It may be the birth of a child or an unexpected kindness given to us. Beyond the actual event, the astonishing thing is what created the circumstances or sights to take place.

After Jesus healed a young boy, Luke 9;43 says, “And all were astonished at the majesty of God.” God’s works never cease to astonish those who behold them honestly, because God’s majesty is far beyond all we can imagine. His power and love for us move us to depths of emotion and understanding that we have never experienced before.

Our hometown is having a Fire and Ice Festival today. As a major part of the festival, ice carver artists are making ice statues on downtown streets. We went and watched part of these festivities. The artists use all sorts of tools to chip or cut away sections of ice to create their statues. They can look at a piece of ice and see the end product that they wish to carve.

Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” God wants to mold each of us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Just like creating the ice scuptures by cutting away of useless parts to create a beautiful statue, God will need to chip away some less desirable parts of us to create the person that He designs us to be and one who can produce good works in His name. Let Him transform you, even when formation process is uncomfortable or takes a lot of time.

Keep going! You won’t win the race unless you finish the race. If you don’t periodically save your computer files, you may lose them and have to start all over again. If we don’t charge our phones as needed, then we may not be able to use them when we want. Personally, I have many health issues that are kept under control through medication. We all know the implications of not doing these things and what happens if we fail to persevere and move forward in these areas.

Ephesians 6:18 says, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Prayer helps us persevere through struggles as it calls upon God’s power. If we fail to persevere, we lose at least some of the progress that we have made. If we don’t endure through our struggles with God’s strength, then we won’t bear the good fruit that endurance helps us produce in our lives.

The presents are opened and celebrated. The wrapping is thrown away. Maybe the decorations are taken down and stored for another year. Family members have returned home. Some have returned to work or school. The glory of Christmas is fading. Now what?

Philippians 4:4-5 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” Those who trust in Jesus Christ have reason to rejoice at all times. He is always near to us and has given us gifts of eternal value. Forgiveness of sins, salvation, redemption, and justification all belong to the one who has given his/her life to Jesus Christ. The glory of Christmas doesn’t fade for the believer because our Lord is always near.