Reluctant Retiree

A new political scandal seems to pop up every week. Politicians have made themselves appear righteous and proper, otherwise they generally do not get elected. However, when they are subject to the bright lights of public scrutiny, many have their terrible secrets revealed and they are publicly dishonored. Athletes, movie stars, and any high profile celebrity is subject to similar risks. It is because we make of show of being good in order to be liked, but we take little care of our hearts and minds to make sure that they are right.

Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders of His day when He is quoted as saying, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11:39) The religious leaders, that is the Pharisees, made hundreds of rules regarding cleansing. Some rules were spiritual in nature like the required offerings. Many rules were related to day to day activities such as hand washing. The rules were extremely cumbersome for the people. Nobody could possibly keep them all consistently. The leaders laid these burdens on the people to keep them subject to the religious elite.

Jesus pointed out that God is more concerned with our inward purity than with clean dishes. He wants us to have pure minds and hearts, loving people and God. We spend far too much time on our outward appearance, while neglecting the development of virtue, purity, and righteousness in the inner man through the power of God’s Spirit. Let’s repent from our outward focus and ask God to purify our hearts and cleanse our hands.

Every morning, and probably several times throughout the day, we look into a mirror to see if we look good at that moment. The mirror reveals where we appear presentable and where we might need to cover up the flaws. This brief glimpse into our appearance helps us take actions to improve ourselves, or at least our perception of ourselves.

Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, night to night reveals knowledge.” God created all things and His creation reveals much about Him. He has given us the ability and privilege of enjoying the beauty and grandeur of the creation. Let it speak to you of God’s love, grace, and goodness. Let nature teach you true knowledge of its Creator.

We are driving across the country right now. Even though the speed limit is 75 miles per hour in much of this part of the country, our progress seems slow and tedious. Patience is a hard virtue to possess and draw upon when needed. But waiting is just a small part of patience. This word also means bearing with each other’s failings. If I thought simple waiting is tough, bearing the burden of loving people through their mistakes and hurts is really difficult.

In I Corinthians 13 Paul wrote a beautiful description of love, often quoted in wedding ceremonies. It says, in part, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.”

Patience is the first quality of love listed by Paul. It doesn’t come naturally to us, but rather is developed through testing. God uses our experiences to teach us patience. It is only when we allow God to truly love others through us that we can actually possess and demonstrate patience.

Today I will achieve an objective that I have had for decades. When we go to the Texas Rangers game tonight, I will have been to a baseball game in every current Major League Baseball stadium. I have thoroughly enjoyed the quest. But this journey is not really an important one in the grander scheme of things.

In I Corinthians 9:24-25 Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

We should make goals for ourselves and then exercise the self-control necessary to achieve our objectives. But instead of making self-serving goals, meant only to serve our desires, we should make goals that serve a greater good and have an eternal impact. Our primary goals should be to know God better and to become more like Him. These goals, when achieved, will make us better people who impact others in positive ways. Worthy objectives, indeed!

Today I had a bit of a frightening experience. I was hiking on a trail that was new to me. Suddenly the trail ended and no longer looked like the map. I made my way back to what I thought was the trailhead. I was hopelessly lost. I was able to get a message to my wife and a search party was sent. In a relatively short period of time they found me and I was rescued. Being lost in the wilderness is a lonely and frustrating experience. Although you want to return home, you need help to get there. When you finally are rescued, everyone celebrates.

You are probably familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son. Although his father was alive, this son asked for and was given his inheritance. He quickly squandered all that he had in self-destructive ways. Sometime later he decided to humbly return home in repentance. The father was eagerly awaiting his return and when he saw his son in the distance, he ran to the son, embraced him and said, “‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Jesus told this story to His disciples to illustrate our relationship with the Heavenly Father. We have all chosen to go our own way, which the Bible calls sin. In this state we have separated ourselves from God. We wander around in confusion and distress in our lost state. However, when we choose to come home to the Father and surrender to His tender mercies and steadfast love, He eagerly welcomes us home. In His grace and joy He celebrates the return of the lost son or daughter. Like the Prodigal, won’t you come home to your Heavenly Father?