Reluctant Retiree

This morning I had a minor surgery to remove squamous cell carcinoma from my ear. If caught early, this type of cancer can be removed without progressing into more dangerous conditions. So the doctor scraped off the bad stuff and stitched me back up to prevent complications and promote the growth of good cells.

The apostle Paul wrote about something even more dangerous within us. He said that sin dwells within each of us and seeks to rule over us, thus destroying our lives. We must deal with sin in the same way that the doctor dealt with my cancer cells. We must give sin no opportunity to rule over us by instead giving ourselves to God. Paul put it this way in Romans 6:12-12, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

We must not let sin continue to have its way with us so that we follow its passions. Instead we must surrender ourselves to God, so that we can walk in righteousness. Sin’s passions will destroy us like cancer destroys the body. Righteousness leads us in the lives we desire and provides healthy spiritual growth.

Two years ago I went to the Emergency Room twice with a rapid heart beat. Subsequently my doctor tried to do a heart ablation to correct the problem, but it was unsuccessful. So they embedded a loop recorder into my chest to record and report abnormalities in my heart rhythm. Everything has been fine until a couple weeks ago when irregular heart beats were reported. Now I am formally diagnosed with aFib and am taking a blood thinner medication.

This got me thinking about the idea of a spiritual heart monitor. It would work by notifying us, by an internal beep perhaps, of our real intentions. So whenever I am tempted to deceive others in order to promote myself, I would hear an internal beep warning me of my bad intentions. Or perhaps when I want to overeat to hide some pain, the beep would sound off. A spiritual heart monitor would help keep me from doing the wrong thing.

Psalm 44:21 says, “For he (God) knows the secrets of the heart.” To be honest, the fact that God knows the secrets of my heart is both comforting and scary. I cannot hide my sins and bad intentions from my holy God. He suffers in my waywardness. This is good in that this knowledge can help me resist temptation. God’s knowledge of my heart’s secrets is also encouraging. He understands my weaknesses and the hurts I have suffered. He feels my pain. In His mercy He eagerly desires to heal my brokenness. I find great comfort in knowing His mercy.

Since God knows the secrets of our hearts, it behooves us to walk in righteousness and integrity. Let us walk in such a way that our secrets will not embarrass us or the God who knows. Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his way crooked will be found out.”

Yesterday I received some bad medical news from my doctor. It threw me for a loop. I woke up today feeling a little down and discouraged. But then I read the Scriptures and found God’s promises and received a new dose of encouragement and hope.

Psalm 42:11 says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God: for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

When life overwhelms us, as it surely will at times, we can sit and stew in our discouragement. That rarely helps us feel better and certainly doesn’t do much to help us. Or we can choose to turn our eyes back to God in faith. If we ask Him, He will restore us and give us hope. That is not to say that our problems will go away instantly. However, we will be more ready to address our concerns in the power of the living God. After all, He is far more capable of bringing comfort, hope and healing than we are.

We just returned home after more than two weeks traveling in the southeastern US. We spent a week in Atlanta with family, five days doing disaster relief work in Louisiana, and a few days with extended family in southern Indiana. Every day and every person blessed us. However, our elderly bodies are worn out and we are tired.

Our tired bodies remind me of the resurrected bodies that God has planned for us and our heavenly home that He is preparing for us who trust in Jesus Christ. Our new bodies will not tire, wear out or even suffer pain. Our new home will be glorious in every aspect. But the best part, and what we are groaning to receive, is the presence of our God.

The apostle Paul said, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.” My tent, earthly body, is most definitely wearing out, but my heavenly dwelling is secured by faith in Jesus Christ, eternal, made for me by my loving God.

Today is Easter, a special day for Christians. We celebrate to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians live in a vital living relationship with God through the risen and living Son of God.

In Mark 8:29 Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” This question is the most important one we must consider in life. Either Jesus is God as He claimed. In which case, we must follow Him with our whole heart. Or He is a liar and deceiver who should be rejected and ignored.

While there is sufficient evidence to prove His claim to be God, ultimately our answer to His question depends upon faith. Eternal life and salvation depend upon our exercise of faith. This Easter consider your answer to the question of who Jesus is. Your life depends on it.