Reluctant Retiree

I enjoy watching track and field, ever since our daughter participated. The skills necessary to succeed are so varied, depending on the event. I especially like to watch the high jump and pole vault. I am always wondering how high they can go, while amazed at their skills. Eventually, the participants reach their limit, as the bar reaches a height beyond their abilities.

A lot of people believe that they are living lives good enough for heaven. They feel like the good things they have done far outweigh any bad things that they may have done. But how would you know? Does one act of kindness count for more good on the righteousness scale than a lie negates? How much good do I have to do to be accepted by God and gain access to heaven? Is there some way that I can evaluate my righteousness status so I can be sure that I get to heaven?

Unfortunately, these people are all on the wrong path. In Matthew 9:13 Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” The religious elite of Jesus’ time thought they were righteous because they held to a strict set of rules. They thought that their good deeds earned their way into God’s favor and into heaven. Jesus contradicted their statements and beliefs. Jesus said that God wants us to have a broken and contrite spirit. He wants us to have faith that He saves us, not our works. By His grace in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for our sins, God offers salvation to each of us. This is good news. We don’t have to wonder if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds. Heaven and salvation are freely given by God to those who trust in Jesus.

Who is the most important person you have ever talked with? Maybe you met a celebrity by chance and had a brief conversation. Perhaps you are involved with government or politics and met some influential leaders. I met some powerful business people in my career, but I probably did not make a meaningful impression on them.

We all have the opportunity to speak with the most powerful person in the universe. Of course, I am talking about God. In Jeremiah 29:12 God says, ” Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” Almighty God invites you and me to call upon Him. He is available at all times for those who are humble in spirit. The God who created and sustains all things desires that we come to Him. He promises to hear us.

When I was a child I wanted to be a professional baseball player. But I never put in the effort to achieve my goal. I played a lot of baseball but didn’t seek the conditioning and instruction to move ahead. Later in life I found a job that I liked and was somewhat good at. I put in the effort and learned the skills to be successful.

If we want something bad enough, most of us will put in the effort to achieve our goals. We may not become the best in our field, but we will move ahead.

Our relationship with God can function similarly. How much do we really want to have a close relationship with God? Is it something for which we are willing to invest an hour once a week? We may even be willing to meet with friends once a week to discuss spiritual matters. How far are we willing to go and how much do we want out of this relationship?

As you might guess, God has something to say on this subject. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” God is not satisfied with an hour of our time here and there. He expects a full commitment of our hearts to Him. If we feel like God is not near, or that He has moved away from us, it is not He who has moved away, but rather we have wandered away from Him. He promised to never leave us, but it is still possible for us to put Him off. As with all relationships, we have to be fully committed to make it work. God expects us to be “all in” with Him.

“They can’t do that to me! I will show them!” How often have we uttered these words, or sentiments like them? How often have we allowed the anger within us to spill out, so that we exact revenge? A car dangerously cuts us off on the highway and the verbal venom comes out. A business doesn’t deliver the products or services that we expect and we threaten retaliation. These feelings come so easily.

Let me tell you a story. He was sent by his father to a place where the father had done much work and the people seemed to like him. However, when the son arrived in the land, the people viewed him with suspect. His words called for greater love and respect for the father. The son did many good things for the people but they still didn’t trust him. Eventually they became angry with the son and made false accusations against him. They took the son to court and arranged for him to be killed, although he had done no wrong. As he was dying, the son looked upon his murderers and said, “Father, forgive them.”

Of course, this is my pathetic attempt to tell the story of Jesus. The very people He came to serve, killed Him. These were the ones whom the Father had blessed and loved through the ages. Even while dying, Jesus forgave them. You and I are not innocent in this story. We are among the crowd who caused His death. For it was for our sins that He died. His blood was spent so that we may be forgiven.

The world has never seen such great mercy in anyone or at any other time. To those who are the benefactors of this mercy, giving mercy to those who may harm us is not an option. Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Rather than exacting revenge, forgive and be merciful. But first receive the mercy that God has for you through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

I am a pretty systematic and organized guy. Therefore, I make plans for my day, week, year, and beyond. I think that my plans are pretty good. But as time goes by, many, if not most of my plans don’t come to fruition. Does that mean that my plans were bad? No matter how good my plans may be I do not control the circumstances that can impact my plans. Sickness, weather, economic upheavals, family concerns, and many other things that I couldn’t predict nor control affect the execution of my plans.

God is not limited in the same way as I am. First, He has all knowledge including the knowledge of future events. Nothing can be an unforseen obstacle for Him. Secondly, He has all power. That means He has the power to make sure His plans succeed. And thirdly, He has all authority. Nothing can supercede His plans.

Therefore, His children can count on God’s promises. They are sure in the power of God’s name. For instance, we have this promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” So we can trust that God’s plans for us are to give us hope and a future. He promised and He will do it.

If you are not yet one of God’s children, I am sorry but this promise is not for you. It can be though. You can become a child of God by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and this promise, as well as many others, will be yours.