Reluctant Retiree

Self-help books load up library and bookstore shelves. Instagram and other social media are filled with so called influencers offering advice on how to make your life more productive and rewarding. Early and late night television offer paid commercial programs that promise a beautiful life.

However, II Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed in the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” True and lasting life transformation comes from the Lord. We receive it by faith and experience it by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As this transformation progresses over time we become more and more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

We use the adjective “perfect” to describe many things that are not in fact perfect. A pitcher can throw a perfect game in baseball, but did not throw every pitch exactly where he wanted. We can capture a photo of a perfect moment, knowing all along that many imperfections of relationships or scenery are in that moment. We may even describe a relationship as perfect while secretly identifying the problems in the relationship.

God is not calling perfect people to be His children. He knows the hearts of men and that a perfect person does not exist. We don’t have to clean ourselves up to come to Him. We could never be clean enough to approach a holy God.

Psalm 25:5 says, “Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” We can only come to God through His mercy and love. It is through His own sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross that we can receive salvation and redemption. It is this great evidence of God’s mercy and love for lost people that magnifies the perfection of God. He is rich in mercy and His love is abundant, steadfast and eternal. Don’t wait to become a better person to place your trust in God. Instead, trust in His perfection of mercy and steadfast love.

My wife and I have worked as volunteers for several disaster relief projects in the last few years. One sight amazes me every time that I see it, that is the damage that water does. Water is not stopped by walls, nor most anything else. Once an area is flooded, water seeps in everywhere and destroys most everything. Once water touches walls, furniture, appliances, and other belongings most of those things must be discarded.

Song of Solomon 8:7 gives an interesting picture of love when it says, “Many waters cannot quench love, neither an floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” Love is more valuable than anything else we can receive. We all know this. We write songs about it. Great books and art have sought to demonstrate its impact upon us. We know what it feels like to be “in love”. We spend our whole lives seeking love. But do we ever find it and know what it is like to receive true love?

I know for certain that we can find love in one place, in God. And His love is perfect in every way. We can do nothing to earn it. He abundantly loves us because He is love. However, to know this love more completely, we must trust Him. This means we must give our lives to Him in response to His love for us. He has demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our salvation and redemption. His love is steadfast and eternal and does not depend upon us being good. His love permeates every part of us, but unlike floodwaters, His love heals, restores, edifies, and redeems. Yes, indeed, we can find true and perfect love in the love of God.

If you drive through Indiana you will notice that the corn fields are fully planted to the extent possible. Farmers would be fools to sow seeds in only a small section of their farmland and expect it to yield a bountiful crop. They sow seeds in all their farmland in order to reap the largest yield possible.

II Corinthians 9:6 says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” This principle is true in so many areas of life. If we expect to have friends, we must sow the seeds of friendliness. If we expect to receive kindness from others, we must sow the seeds of kindness with them. If we expect to receive help from people, we must sow the seeds of helpfulness. We must sow generously into the lives of others before we can expect to reap the fruit of our generosity.

The weather forecast was somewhat foreboding when I started my morning hike. The prediction called for 90% chance of rain and snow. Yet, I was convinced that God wanted me to take the hike. So I started out, taking an umbrella and wearing an overcoat. My heart was calm and I had a sense that the rain would hold off. Several times during the hike I thought of taking a short extended detour. But I didn’t have the same peace about adding steps to my journey today. It felt like I would be tempting God by adding steps that He had not approved. So I completed the 7 mile hike without even opening the umbrella.

Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” The only right course in life is to delight in God’s ways and to follow His steps. If we take any other path, we leave God’s protection and are left to blindly walk in our own limited vision.