Reluctant Retiree

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.

When we see a beautiful sunrise, we take a picture to capture this spectacular event. At the birth of a child or grandchild, we record this extraordinary event with photos. When we see nature’s glory, we sit in stunned amazement at its grandeur. All of these sights inspire us, move us to tears, and are recorded in our memories to dwell upon forever.

Isaiah 40:5 says, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” God has promised to reveal His glory to all people at the end of time, when Jesus returns to earth. His glory is far greater than a sunrise, birth of a child, or nature’s glory. His glory will overwhelm all who see it. This will be a source of great joy and the fulfillment of hope for all those who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. But it will be the source of ultimate dread for anyone who has rejected Him. Let it be a source of joy and fulfillment of hope for you. Place your trust in Jesus Christ today.

“And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?'” Luke 24:31-32

After the resurrection, two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus. Jesus came to them and walked with them, but Jesus kept them from recognizing Him. Jesus began sharing Scriptures with them, explaining how the Scriptures had foretold His coming, His death and His resurrection. Later when Jesus had broken bread for them to share, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus.

We all should ask God to open our eyes, so that we can see and understand His work all around us. We should ask Him to open our ears to hear His voice in the Scriptures. And we should ask Him to open our hearts to understand what He is showing us and telling us. Then we will know the burning passion for God that thes disciples came to know.