Reluctant Retiree

Lately, I have experienced what I would call dead legs while going on my daily hikes. The legs look normal and can do the normal activity, but they feel heavy and tired. I am able to carry out my normal hikes but don’t feel as alive as normal.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved.”

The Bible tells us that, though we appear to be alive, before accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are dead in our sins. In other words, we are not connected to the true life source. Oh we can do the normal life related tasks, but we are not bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and goodness. In this state, God’s wisdom and righteousness are beyond our reach. But once we place our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God gives us real and abundant life. Suddenly we are changed and can experience the love, grace, and mercy of God. He has put eternal life within us by giving us His Holy Spirit. Everything becomes brand new and we want to shout, “I’m alive, I’m alive! Thank God, Almighty! I’m alive!”

I am a person who tries to avoid conflict whenever possible. I am constantly thinking about whether my actions will be positively or negatively received by others. Frankly, this is not a good way to live. Of course, it is always a good idea to try to do good for others. But I will never be able to avoid all conflict. Sometimes I will do something that offends someone. If I am in the wrong, I should seek their forgiveness. But other times the offense comes because we simply disagree. I cannot avoid those times, so I just need to make sure that I am acting with righteous motives.

Joshua 10:8 says, “And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” Sometimes the conflicts we face are a struggle between good and evil. Evil forces will mock, heckle, scold, threaten, and argue. But, armed with the promises of God and the power of His Spirit, the believer can rest assured that God will give us the victory and our opponents will not be standing before us. God fights for those who trust in Him. He is opposed to those who proudly rebel against Him.

In Revelation 15:3-4 all of heaven sings, and we will all sing one day: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

At the end of time, we will all bow down and worship God. Some will do it out of thanksgiving and praise for who He is and what He has done. Others will be forced to do it finally after rejecting Him during their lives, because they will see God as He really is. Make it your number one priority to get to know this God more each day. You will find that His love, grace and mercy are worthy of your praise.

I hike 10-12 miles everyday, except Sunday. On Mondays I am strong and the hike seems to be no trouble at all. By Thursday, I am getting weaker and really wouldn’t mind taking a day off. By Saturday, it becomes a real chore to hit the trails and keep going. Endurance takes practice and some motivation to continue. I have kept going because of my desire to be healthier and stronger, after a major health setback four years ago.

In Revelation 14:12 an angel prays for believers saying, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” God has called us to faithful endurance. We quickly learn that we are unable to be both faithful and strong for long periods of time. We need God’s help. So the angel asks God to give us the necessary endurance. On our part, we must continue in obedience and faith in Jesus. Focusing on His love for us and our future eternal home with Him gives us plenty of motivation to endure whatever struggles we face in this world.

Ponce de Leon is believed to have searched for the Fountain of Youth. Many people of my generation would like to find this fountain so that they can become young again. I am not so enamored with the idea because I don’t want to make the same mistakes again or even create a new set of errors.

Titus 3:4 says, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

Renewal and regeneration is waiting for each of us. God has prepared it for us through his mercy. We cannot earn it or do enough good to achieve it through our own efforts. We must simply receive it by faith. While we will not become young again, God promises to make us into a new creation, becoming more like Him. And eventually we will be in His presence with a new resurrected body that will never decay or suffer. Real true regeneration awaits you in the loving kindness and goodness of God. Trust Him!