Reluctant Retiree

If I remember correctly, in the story of the Grinch who stole Christmas, the Grinch’s heart is portrayed as cold as stone. His cold heart causes him to act harshly toward others, going so far as stealing Christmas presents and decorations. Then he is moved to kindness in giving to someone else. Suddenly his cold heart is warmed and he goes about sharing kindness with everyone.

The Grinch’s story is a classic one because we all want to be shown kindness. While we all want to receive kindness, we are not always quick to show kindness to others. We need a heart transplant. We need a warm heart to replace our sometimes cold heart.

Unfortunately we are who we are and it is difficult to change. Selfishness and self-centeredness urge us to protect ourselves, keeping us from reaching out to assist others. We don’t realize that we hurt ourselves by failing to give kindness. Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” Besides the obvious benefits our kindness gives to others, kindness also benefits the giver. When we sow kindness, we will reap kindness and our hearts will be inevitably warmed.

We will need help in becoming consistently kind people. It begins by tapping into the inexhaustible well of God’s kindness toward us. Ephesians 2:7 says, “So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” We must accept God’s kindness in the salvation He provided in Jesus. Then our new hearts are filled with His kindness, and the kindness pipeline is opened for us to receive and pass onto others. Our new hearts pour out the love and kindness of God.

Life can feel random at times. Why do circumstances fall like they do for us? Why does it seem like certain people have all the luck? Why do bad things keep happening to me? Why am I even here or why was I born?

It may seem like our birth was some random event. Of all the people in the world, why did our parents meet and have children? Why couldn’t I have been born to richer, better looking parents so that I could enjoy those benefits?

Your birth and my birth were not random events. The Bible says that before the creation of the world, God knew each of us. In fact, the Bible also says that He designed each of us in amazing detail. Not only did He create our bodies, but He also designed and created our minds, personalities, and spirits. When He created us, He had specific purposes in mind for us, as well.

Esther 4:14 says, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther was a Jew but was queen in another country. Her people were threatened and these words were spoken by her uncle. She was in a position to save her people, but it would be at great risk to her own life. She did step forward and her people were saved.

Esther was created by God for this specific purpose, among others. She bravely fulfilled God’s purpose. God created each of us for His purposes. We will miss out on the fruitful and meaningful lives He designed for us, if we do not first yield to Him. By continuing to reject God by living according to our self-centered ways, we cannot understand nor fulfill His desires. Today is the day of salvation. Do not harden your heart and reject God’s plans for you. Accept the free gift of salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul had many attributes that he could boast about in his day. He was highly educated, fervently religious, blameless under his religion, and part of the upper class. Yet, he did have his weaknesses. Physically he wasn’t much to look at. Despite his high position in society, he wasn’t a great speaker. As a young man he was far from correct in his religious pursuits, although he practiced his religion strictly.

When God met him in a vision on the road to Damascus, Paul became a changed man. Where previously he had great confidence in himself, now he recognized his weaknesses. Where he was previously arrogant and full of pride, God humbled him. Instead of hiding his weaknesses, he began to let God use his weaknesses.

In II Corinthians 12:8-9 Paul wrote, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” You see, Paul understood that we cannot avail ourselves of God’s power when we are confident in ourselves. However, if we will humble ourselves and trust in God, we will experience the fullness of God’s power.

Life is full of choices. Some choices are made for us, like getting picked for the team or the job. Most of the time we are making the choices, like who to marry and where to live. And still other times circumstances and environment impact even the choices that we make. Regardless, throughout each day we make hundreds or thousands of decisions that affect our lives.

Some decisions have short term impacts, like where we go for lunch. Others have long-term effects, like how far we go in our education. One decision has eternal consequences, that is what we choose to believe about God. The God of the Bible promises salvation and eternal life to those who choose to believe in Him and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. This same God, however, warns that the choice to reject Him results in eternal separation from Him.

The people of Israel were faced with the decision of what they believed about God as they possessed the land beyond the Jordan River. Joshua spoke to them and said, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua had led the people to victory after victory, but he understood that God had given them the victories and the land. Therefore, he was choosing to serve this faithful and mighty God.

This same God is faithful and mighty on our behalf. He loves us with an abundant and everlasting love. I pray that you will choose to accept His gift of salvation and serve Him.

To what are you looking forward? Is it some planned special event like a wedding, a birth, a reunion of friends or family, or a vacation. Perhaps you are looking forward to retirement or just some free time to unwind. The things that promise to bring us joy give us encouragement and strength to carry on.

In the Bible, the book of Revelation points us to future events. Parts of this book is meant to be a serious warning to those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ. If nonbelievers truly understood the terrible things that will happen in the future, they would surely repent and believe. On the other hand, the remainder of the book is a strong encouragement to believers, based on God’s promises.

Revelation 21:3-4 says, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”‘ For His children, God promises to remove all forms of suffering when we pass into His presence. Now that is something to look forward to and be encouraged.

If you are currently living outside of these promises, by having never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, please consider the promises of God and the reality of a future outside of God’s presence.