Reluctant Retiree

The modern soldier uses a variety of offensive weapons and defensive body armor. Besides weapons, the soldier wears helmets and bullet proof vests among other protective devices. Helmets protect the head, while the vests protect the heart.

A battle rages for our hearts and minds. Both seen and unseen forces are trying to capture our hearts and minds to lead us into doing evil. I Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” Focusing our minds on salvation keeps our thoughts on God’s grace and mercy, bringing us hope even in discouraging circumstances. These thoughts protect us from breaking down in the face of adversity. Protecting our hearts with faith and love draws on the unlimited power of God. Faith and love keep us from wandering into danger zones, but rather keep us on the path of righteousness. Strength and hope are assured when we use our protective armor of faith, love, and hope.

The artist creates something beautiful where there was once only a blank canvas or a block of marble. The writer creates awe inspiring music or stories from a blank page. God created the universe out of emptiness with only His words.

God formed you and I with specific plans and purposes for our lives. At birth, we were like the blank and empty spaces mentioned above. He even placed us in specific environments to learn how we can fulfill His purposes. He is always working in our lives to draw us near to Him so that He can form us into the beautiful work of His hands.

Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” As a highly skilled and intrinsically good potter, God wants to make something beautiful of your life. Don’t become hard clay, difficult for the potter to mold. Be like soft clay, pliable for the Father’s design. If you will allow Him to mold you according to His design, you will become the glorious creation of His love.

Have you ever been looking for something and can’t find it, but someone else quickly finds it in plain sight? Or have you ever watched a movie for the second time and seen things that you completely missed the first time? Perhaps you have noticed something along your way to work one day that you could swear was never there before. I think that we do this all the time. Our attention is easily drawn in one direction, only to miss other significant things.

Isaiah 64:3-4 says, “When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” It is possible that we miss the awesome acts of God because we are distracted by worldly attractions. We may say that God is doing nothing or that He simply doesn’t exist because we haven’t sincerely tried to observe His wonders. Because we are not looking for Him, we may decline His offer of salvation and eternal love.

Take some time and honestly look around you. See if you cannot see the awesome things that God has done and is doing. Ask Him to open your eyes to see His wonders and open your heart to receive His love.

It is amazing how far we will go to look good. We buy expensive clothes with the best labels. We purchase high end body products and spend a lot of time in front of a mirror. Sometimes we undergo surgery to remove our embarrassing areas and enhance other features. We spend hours on social media to be updated on significant trends and events, so we sound good before others.

All of this effort and expenditures are fine, but they ignore what is really important and beneficial. I Peter 3:4 says, “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” We miss the point of life and God’s design if we ignore building godliness and righteousness into our hearts and spirits. When we allow God to repair and rebuild our hearts, we can become the best we can be, beautiful inside and out.

An advocate is someone who publicly supports a particular cause. I have needed someone to be an advocate for me on occasion. Whether it be defending me against a false accusation, pleading for mercy for something I did do, or seeking some reward, I have greatly appreciated the person who has been willing to support me in this way.

I John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus is the Advocate with the Father for those who believe in Him as Savior and Lord. He continually stands before the Father declaring our righteousness, based upon His shed blood for us. He also declares that we His own children. Though we may sin, Jesus speaks of our redemption by His death and resurrection. The case is closed with victory assured through the advocacy of Jesus the Son before the Father.