Reluctant Retiree

We are overwhelmed with images presented to us every day. Advertising promotes images of the perfect smile, perfect car, perfect appearance, and the perfect life. Of course all of these images have their faults and therefore are not perfect. We are also guilty of presenting false images. We display the image of compassion by a single act of kindness, but our hearts are really cold and hard. We project an image of success and wealth by purchasing a fancy new car, but we will be hard pressed to keep up the payments or will sacrifice on necessities. We all have certain things that we want other people to believe about us but are not entirely true, so we do things to project those images.

Jesus, however, is the real deal. The image that He projects is the image of God, because He is, in fact, God. Colossians 1:15-16 speaking of Jesus says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him.” Jesus Christ is God, the creator of all things. His life perfectly reflects God’s life. His love is everlasting. He possesses power to do all things. And He has authority over all things, as Lord of lords and King of kings.

Don’t waste your life projecting images that are not true. Instead, let your life be a reflection of the life of Jesus by His own power.

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.