Reluctant Retiree

This morning we took our 3 year old granddaughter to an indoor playground sponsored by a local church. This playground was like you can find at most parks and fast food restaurants, only much larger. It was the perfect place to go on a cold day. I watched as our granddaughter moved for one slide to another and gracefully navigated the many climbing and bouncing structures. All the while, she had the biggest smile on her face. Her joy was uninhibited and contagious, as I found myself overcome by her joy.

Walking with Jesus brings us the same overcoming joy. Even in the midst of troubles, we can have joy knowing that our God is faithful and stronger than any obstacle we may face. This trust in God’s goodness and power provides us great peace.

God promised to give His children joy and peace in Isaiah 55:12; “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” Give your struggles to God and trust Him to overcome your troubles. He is able and He is good.

I began my morning hike before sunrise this morning. When I finally looked up I saw the red moon of the lunar eclipse. As long as I was walking west I could see the eclipse go from a red moon to a red moon with a bright sun brightened light on top. By the time I headed east toward home, the sunrise was at its brightest orange glow. These were awesome sights that I was truly grateful for the opportunity to see, although I had not planned it.

Watching the lunar eclipse and sunrise gave me a sense of just how far the east is from the west. What I could see was just the beginning of the extremes of those two directions. What I saw was also just the beginnings of seeing up into the heavens.

Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” God’s love for His children is immeasurable, higher than the heavens. His forgiveness is complete, removed from His children so far that our sins cannot be seen or even remembered. Everyone who believes in Jesus can rest assured that God loves us and has forgiven us through the sacrifice of His own Son.

In Old Testament times a curtain separated the people from God’s presence in the temple. Only the high priest could enter into God’s presence behind the curtain, and then he could only enter at the specified time once a year. If he did not purify himself beforehand, death awaited him.

To some degree, we have all placed a curtain in front of us. Unlike God, we are trying to hide our faults. We may only let certain people behind the curtain to see the real person, and then only infrequently. On the outside of the curtain, we are adept at making ourselves appear vibrant, full of life. But the curtain may hide our insecurities and failures. Outside we are alive, but inside we are dead or dying.

Revelation 3:1-2 describes a group in Sardis that had the above conditions. It says, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight God.” Many people do religious works and believe that they are worshipping God in this way. God is far more concerned with the condition of our hearts. If we deny God, our hearts are dead and we live in darkness. However, if we trust God for salvation and redemption, then our hearts become alive and we can pull back the curtain and walk in the presence of God. Life becomes abundant and purposeful and we find joy.

You have probably heard, “You can accomplish anything you desire in life, if you work hard”. Or how about, “You can be anything you want to be, if you want it bad enough?” Both statements are motivational statements intended to make us believe that we are in control of our destinies. The reality is that we will all need the help and support of others to accomplish our dreams. We will also need the blessings of God!

If God seems far away from you, and He just doesn’t seem to hear your prayers, perhaps you have put yourself in the wrong position. Maybe you have unknowingly, or knowingly, moved away from God and given Him no place in your life. A GPS device can tell us exactly where we are. Perhaps we need a spiritual test to tell us where we are with God.

Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” We can have an intimate relationship with God by seeking His presence fervently. He will nourish our souls better than a cup of cold water nourishes the desert traveler. We must develop an appetite for His presence more than we have an appetite for our favorite foods. The Bible says that we find God when we search for Him with our whole hearts. Begin the journey of a close relationship with God by genuinely seeking Him. I suggest you start by reading God’s Word, the Bible.

It is autumn in the Midwest, but the trees have passed the peak season for displaying colorful leaves. The leaves have faded, died, and fallen from the trees. What was once a beautiful array of dazzling color is now a barren dullness. The glory of colorful trees has faded away.

Any glory that we receive in this world also fades away quickly and is soon forgotten. Worldly glory cannot satisfy the soul and when it fades, it leaves us frustrated and disappointed. God’s glory, on the other hand, has always existed and will always exist. It will not ever diminish or leave us disappointed. Webster defines glory as “a state of great gratification or exaltation”. God’s glory gives Him great gratification and exaltation and promises to give us great gratification and exaltation.

So how do we experience this glory? John 11:40 says, “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'” We experience the glory of God by believing in Him. Then we will witness His wonders in us and through us. His glory far surpasses any glory that this world can offer. Trade in the fading glory of the world for the everlasting glory of God by believing in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption.