Reluctant Retiree

This morning I was hiking a familiar trail before sunrise. It was dark and I was trying to stay on the trail, but I couldn’t see the trail. My steps were slow and unsure. Then I saw a light several hundred yards directly in front of me. I didn’t know where the light came from, but by heading directly toward the light, I could trust my steps and not wander right or left.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Whether we are going through times of rejoicing or times of struggle, keeping our eyes on Jesus helps us follow the right path and endure unto victorious living. His light keeps us from wandering right or left, staying on the path of righteousness.

Often our work at the lower levels of a company prepare us to manage more difficult tasks as we move up in the company. By living and helping with chores in a loving family we learn how to create and maintain a loving family of our own. By completing our schoolwork as best as we can, we gain the information and skills necessary to earn a living later in life. Though sometimes it is difficult and tedious to do our work now, we will reap future benefits by giving our best efforts to the jobs at hand.

Proverbs 12:24 says, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” We shouldn’t grumble about the work we have to do, because it God uses this work to prepare us to manage our responsibilities well. Instead we should be grateful and learn from these experiences. Similarly God uses our study of His Word, along with prayer and godly living, to prepare us for spiritual trials and service.

We put our trust in a number of things daily. We trust politicians and government to do the right things for us. We trust merchants to provide good quality goods and services at a fair price. We trust family members to be faithful and act for the welfare of all the family. We trust the chair that we sit in to hold us up comfortably.

Psalm 18:30 says, This God-his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” We follow God because His paths are perfect and everything that He speaks is true. He always protects us when we call upon Him. We can have a sincere faith in God because He loves us and is true and perfect.

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.