Reluctant Retiree

Have you ever felt sure that you know something to be true only to find out later that it was not true? Or maybe the opposite circumstance happened. Have you ever believed something to be false only to find out later that it was indeed true? I think that we have all experienced these issues. With the revelation of biased news reporting and wild conspiracy theories, it can often be difficult to find the truth. Even science battles these phenomenons, and has to negate prior scientific statements in favor of findings from more recent studies.

Based on my own experience with God, His revelation of truth, and the abundance of independent evidence, I am certain of a few things. Job 19:25 says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Like Job I believe that we can know two things for certain, beyond any doubt. First, our Redeemer, Jesus, is alive and actively drawing people to Himself. Secondly, at the end of the current age, all people will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord God and rules over heaven and earth.

You may disagree with my assertions, although I sincerely hope that you don’t. Your eternal home and present life hang in the balance based upon these two eternal truths.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

It is the Christmas season and we rightfully focus on the birth of the Savior. We celebrate this birth with great joy, wonderful music, brilliant lights, and gracious gift giving. All of this is good.

But the birth of Jesus Christ was given by God to redeem a people unto Himself. Because is perfectly just, He chose to punish the Redeemer for the sins committed by His people. Hebrews 9:22 says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” So God’s own Son suffered a physically brutal death on the cross, while also incurring God’s wrath against all of our sins. So by the shedding of His blood, Jesus is able to secure God’s forgiveness for your sins and my sins. Not only did Jesus suffer on the cross but he suffers all of our griefs and sorrows. Every single one of our pains is felt by Jesus with us. He carries our sorrows.

At Christmas, we remember the birth of the Christ-child. But we should also remember that His birth eventually led to His suffering on the cross for our sins. These remembrances should lead us to thanksgiving and praise.

Luke records the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem to give God an offering and perform the purification rites required under the Law of God at that time.

Luke 2:22-24 says, “And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.'”

Mary and Joseph were poor so they gave two birds as an offering to God, as opposed to the usual offering of a lamb. They gave God everything that they had. We don’t make animal sacrifices now, but God wants us to give Him everything that we have. While we may not physically transfer everything to God, everything must be made available to Him to use for His purposes. It is He who has given us everything and to be a true follower of Jesus Christ we must surrender ownership of our time, treasures, and talents to God. We can trust Him to provide for our needs and deal with us in loving-kindness.

Most of us enjoy giving gifts at Christmas. Whether it is in the form of something the recipient needs, wants, or is touched by, we are pleased to give. So much so, that we overlook the crowds, noise, and interruptions of shopping. Giving a gift that pleases the receiver brings us joy.

Luke 2 tells the story of the first Christmas, when Jesus Christ was born. An angel announced the news of the birth to shepherds in the fields. Then verses 13-14 say, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'”

All of heaven broke out in God’s praises at the birth of Jesus Christ. We should celebrate Christmas with worship, because we have been given the greatest gift ever, salvation through God’s Son Jesus Christ. God knew our need for Redeemer and our desire for peace, so He sent His Son. I know that the holiday season is busy and the meaning of Christmas has been diluted, but please take some time this Christmas season to consider God’s gift to you and respond appropriately with worship.

What qualities should the perfect friend? Should they be loyal and dependable? Should they be available when we have need? Should they be generous with their time and resources? Do we hold ourselves accountable to be the type of friend that we expect others to be for us?

Colossians 3:12-13 gives us a list of qualifications for the person who desires to be a good friend and Christian brother or sister. It says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

That is quite a list. Notice that it differs from the list in the first paragraph. The first paragraph lists things we expect a friend to do for us. The Colossians’ verse lists internal attributes, or the kind of person who makes a good friend. It is abundantly easier for us to be the first paragraph type of friend because it just requires certain actions from us. To be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient and forgiving requires changes in our hearts. Most of us do not sustain these attributes over time.

Let’s ask God to build these internal attributes in/into our lives so that we can become true friends and even brothers and sisters to others. Our relationships will certainly change for the better as He works these qualities into our lives. Jesus possesses these attributes in abundance, so He can surely work through us in transforming us to be like Him.