Reluctant Retiree

Whenever I have gotten a different car, all of a sudden I become aware of dozens of other people driving the same model car. It is also true that whenever I get sick or come into some kind of trouble, several other people who have had the same experience suddenly come forward. They offer me encouragement and support as I go through the season of suffering.

I don’t believe that these sets of common experiences are accidental. I believe that God directs these common experiences so that we can receive comfort from each other and so that we can comfort people with the encouragement and support that we have received.

II Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Our God is the God of all comfort. He promises to comfort His children in ALL our troubles. He provides comfort out of His great mercies. The comfort may come directly from Him or He may choose to use other people to bring comfort to us.

We, then, have the responsibility to comfort others who suffer similar afflictions. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to remember God’s comfort and to be grateful for it. Then we will be of a mind to share encouragement and support with others.

A perfect season in professional sports is a rare accomplishment. The Miami Dolphins were undefeated one season. No Major League Baseball team has ever succeeded to the point of having no losses in a season. Several National Basketball Association teams have had very good seasons, but all have lost several games.

If you and I are honest, we will admit to some failures along the way. For me, it is difficult to go very long without making some mistake, big and small. We just don’t possess the wisdom and ability to go undefeated in life.But there is hope. I John 5:4 says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” So faith in Jesus Christ gives us victory over the world system. That is not to say that Christians never fail or make mistakes. Of course we do. But faith in God never fails or falters. God has already overcome evil and the world system through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Through His resurrection, the last enemy of God was defeated. Death has been conquered. God, through His Holy Spirit, comes to dwell within everyone who is born of God, those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer through faith. Thus we have overcome the world and are victorious as we exercise faith.

In my 72 years of experience, I have done some things that cause me to think or someone to say, “What were you thinking?” These actions cause me great embarrassment and may even hurt others. You can go to YouTube today and find numerous videos categorized under “what were they thinking?” We have all witnessed others do things that make us wonder about their reasoning processes.

As an elder gentlemen I think it is good at times to think young. It improves my attitude and helps me feel optimistic. But when thinking young leads me to do things that I should not do, my childish thoughts are harmful and destructive.

Paul warned us about this mistake in I Corinthians 15:20; “Brothers, don’t be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” We should strive to grow more effective in our reasoning abilities and mental outlook. This will help us make better decisions and cause us to meditate on the truth of God’s Word. However, we should stay uniformed in doing evil. God warns us against evil, and mature Biblical thinking through His Spirit will keep us on the path of righteousness.

Recently, I have had two heart procedures, a heart catheterization and a heart ablation. The first was done to determine if I had any blockages. The second procedure was done to correct an irregular heart rhythm. Thankfully, I haven’t yet gotten to the point where I need a heart transplant or artificial heart.

But God does heart transplants every day. Oh, He doesn’t do physical heart transplants, although I would argue that He oversees every one of those. No, God does spiritual, emotional, and mental heart transplants.

In Ezekiel 36:26 God says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

When a person becomes a Christian by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption, God gives him or her a new heart. The old heart has grown cold and hard through selfishness and pride. It lacked compassion for others and a deep love of God. God replaces the old hard heart with one full of love for God and people. Selfishness and pride are replaced by compassion and kindness. The new heart is powered by the new spirit God gives the child of God. Where once we could not love like we wanted, God’s Spirit loves fully through us.

Just like we have to go to a doctor when our physical heart needs care, we must ask God to give us the new heart and new spirit when we seek spiritual health. Why not trust God to give you a new heart today?

Even though we are in the middle of summer, my thoughts turned to spring, the season of revival. Baseball returns with hopes for our favorite team. Flowers sprout and declare a multicolored renewal of life. Trees regain their leafy splendor. After the cold of winter, we all get to go outside and enjoy the fresh spring breezes.

Revival is good, not only for nature, but also for the soul. Sometimes we just feel low. It could be due to our circumstances, our health, or even our finances. These things outside of our soul can bring us down, but our spirits can also make us lowly. Perhaps we haven’t achieved what we had hoped. Or maybe we have lost our purpose for living.

Jesus understands the lowly spirit. In fact, He said that He is gentle and lowly of spirit. Remember, He faced the same world with all of its problems and obstacles that we face. He understands us and eagerly desires to help and heal us. Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'”

Although He is exalted above all people, powers, and authorities, God chooses to also dwell with the lowly and contrite. He promises to hear us, comfort us, and revive us, even when we are at our lowest point. Those of us who are contrite will recognize His presence and revival when we are down.