Reluctant Retiree

Every day we are faced with dozens of choices between doing the right thing or what we want to do. If we are in a generous mood we will often choose to do the right thing by showing kindness, giving to those in need, visiting someone in the hospital, or just putting the needs of others before our wants. However, if we are not in a generous mood we will likely choose some selfish action over doing the right thing. The problem is that we are so rarely in that generous mood, if you are anything like me. Then the good thing is left undone and people suffer.

Psalm 51:12 says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” It is good to ask God to give us a willing spirit. Left on our own we will act in a self-centered way. But God promises to inspire us and help us do the right things. Let’s ask God to give us a willing spirit and then we can change the world one kindness at a time.

One of the contradictions of hearing loss is that most noises sound better with hearing aids, but some noises become irritating when they are amplified. High pitched noises are difficult for me to bear, while low pitch voices are often unheard. I haven’t been able to solve this contradiction yet, so I just try to avoid circumstances where the sounds might be annoying and attend where the noises are pleasant. Unfortunately, I miss out on many good things this way.

However, there is one celebration that I won’t miss and can’t wait for it to happen. A great noise will erupt, but I will be healed of hearing loss and will exult in the celebration. Revelation 19:6-7 says, “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”

The apostle John thus described the return of Jesus Christ to bring all believers to Himself. We will join the greatest celebration that has ever happened as we are presented to Jesus as His bride. In response we will lift up mighty praises to the Almighty God and rejoice forevermore. You won’t want to miss this celebration, so give your life to Jesus Christ today and trust Him as your Savior and Lord.

I am not mechanically inclined in the least. I cannot build or repair things. Even when I have the instructions and read them carefully, often I don’t understand what they are telling me. That is because I don’t have the background needed to comprehend them. For instance, it wasn’t until recently that I grasped the basic fact of righty-tighty, lefty-loosy in relation to screws.

Hebrews 4:2 informs us that a similar truth applies to the good news. This verse says, “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” Millions of people have heard the gospel message of salvation and redemption, but they have not understood it to the point of believing. They know the basic truths regarding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it has not affected their lives.

It is simple, the missing ingredient is faith. We must apply faith to our understanding of God’s Word. Faith must also be applied to our response to His good news. God is freely offering us salvation and redemption. We must receive this wonderful gift of His mercy and grace through faith. In order to benefit from His gift, we must receive it by faith.

How many times have you confided in someone, telling them about some struggle that you have, and they respond by saying, “I know how you feel”? Then you go away wondering if they can possibly know how you feel, because your struggle seems unique to you. Is this just a phrase to offload any guilt that we may have because we can’t, or don’t want to, offer any real help?

Hebrews 2:17-18 says, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Jesus took upon Himself human form and in so doing suffered in all the ways that we can suffer. He was able to walk through His sufferings in righteousness. He understands our struggles and sufferings. He demonstrates His mercy and faithfulness by helping us move through our suffering. We can trust Him because He understands us and because He is merciful and faithful.

The narcissist feeds their self-centeredness until they do not even recognize their selfishness any longer. The addict consumes until they can no longer resist. The greedy corporate executive flaunts the rules of ethics until he no longer sees the line of morality he is crossing. The angry person becomes out of control venting their frustration time and again.

Jeremiah 5:3 says, “O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.” From time to time we will suffer because we have done something wrong. God uses these times to correct us. We can choose to reject His correction and continue in our bad behavior, but we will eventually make our hearts cold and heart, like those listed in the previous paragraph. Or we can learn from God’s corrections and repent from our bad behavior. Then we can continue on the right path with God’s blessing.