Reluctant Retiree

What do you treasure above all else? My family is my treasure. I do all that I can to honor, love, protect, provide for, and care for them. Others may say that their job, car, house, awards, golf clubs, prestige, pets, or almost anything else is their treasure. Life revolves around the things that we cherish and treasure.

God also has a treasure. Malachi 3:16-17 says, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ‘They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.'”

God’s treasured possessions are the people who fear Him and worship His name. These are the people who trust Him for salvation and redemption. These are those who walk in His path of righteousness. Their names are written in God’s Book of Life and they are spared God’s judgment against evil.

King David was a central figure in the Old Testament and for Israel. God even declared that David was a man after His own heart. Although David had faults and sinned greatly, he was a man who sought God and wanted to do what God called him to do. When faced with his sin, David immediately repented and received the Lord’s mercy.

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” God is more concerned with the purity of your heart than He is with what rules you may follow or what service you may perform. The world’s religions are based upon following rules and performing religious rituals. Christianity, however, is based upon a relationship with God beginning with washing away of our sins through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. From this initial cleansing of our hearts we can continue to have a pure heart by following Jesus and confessing our sins when we fail. Maintaining a close relationship with God motivates us to walk uprightly in His love and grace.

A small child can go from tears to laughter, or vice versa, in moments. Adults, however, need much more to move from sadness to joy than a funny face on a parent, soothing words, or a favorite toy. We want real comfort, and even healing, when we are suffering. We want someone to lift the burden of our pain and to take away our tears.

Luke 6:21 says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” God is giving those who believe in Jesus Christ a promise for our current suffering and a promise to end all pain and tears in the future. When we are suffering now, the God of all comfort promises to bring us comfort when and where we need it. He understands our pain and is eager to provide healing. God also promises to remove all tears and pain when we arrive in Heaven and come into His presence.

We all face suffering at various times. The only sure and effective comfort comes from God. Why not turn your pain over to God and experience His comfort?

When I was in elementary school we learned about Least Common Denominators. We sought to find the lowest number that all the Denominators evenly divided into when working with fractions. Just those words alone may bring chills to your spine and make you disinterested in reading further. I understand, but bear with me.

This world is a world that demands uniformity. Children learn early that to be accepted they must behave a certain way, dress in certain clothes and speak a certain language form. Peer pressure is real and powerful. As we grow older, the pressure is often more subtle, but not less powerful.

Today we face the additional struggles related to tolerance and the cancel culture. The problem with peer pressure and the demand for uniformity is that it takes us all to the Least Common Denominators of behavior and life. The only style and behavior acceptable to all is its lowest form. We are discouraged from excellence as that sets us apart from the norms.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Following the crowd takes you away from the life you want and God’s specific design for you. He has so much more for you than the world can offer. By listening to Him and following Him you find what is good and acceptable and perfect. Quit listening to the world’s demands and start listening to God and find the true perfect way.

It is time for my annual Medicare health assessment. My doctor will run some standard tests, ask me some questions, and check me out. If I am healthy, he will send me on my way. If not, he will design a treatment plan. When I have specific health issues I go to a specialist and they work to remedy my situation. So aside from my annual exam I only go to doctors when I have a specific health concern.

Luke 5:31-32 says, “And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'” If we are to accept Jesus’s offer of salvation, we must first acknowledge our weaknesses and sins. Then we can come to Him as a sinner in need of a Savior. Like the patient in need of a health solution, we must come to Jesus as a person in need of a spiritual remedy.