Reluctant Retiree

Today I walked around a lake in the morning and alongside a river later in the day. The surfaces of the lake and the river were both covered by ice and snow. It made for beautiful scenery, especially at sunrise. But the beauty covered up the great danger. It hasn’t been cold enough for a long enough period to make the ice thick and hard. Anyone who would venture onto these bodies of water would soon be swimming for their lives.

Sometimes we face dangers that are obvious and we try to avoid them. Other times we don’t see the danger before us and suffer the consequences. And still other times we see the danger and press forward, thinking we will overcome the risks.

There is one danger that we should never ignore and press forward to try and overcome. That danger is unrighteousness. When we are confronted with something we know is wrong, we should never continue going toward it. If we go on that path, we will suffer. Proverbs 27:12 says, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” When confronted with unrighteousness, we should ask God for the strength to do the right thing instead.

Psalm 1:1-2 gives us the progression of unrighteousness and the way to walk in righteousness. It says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” The progression of unrighteousness begins with walking according to the ways of wickedness. It then progresses to standing with sinners. Finally unrighteousness has us sitting with those who mock righteousness. We must delight in God and His Word in order to stay on the righteous path. Meditating on His Word sharpens our attention to His ways.

Every day we choose which path we shall follow. Will we ignore the dangers of unrighteousness and walk in the ways of sinners? Or will we stay firmly grounded in God’s Word and seek righteousness?

What are the signs of a mature person? Making wise decisions is surely one sign. A mature person takes responsibility for his or her actions. This person has gathered knowledge through experience to live wisely. A certain amount of selflessness and caring for others also characterize the mature person. I am sure that you can add more characteristics of maturity than my short list.

Basically maturity comes from practice of the characteristics of human growth andbetterment. Becoming a mature person of faith comes the same way. To mature in the faith, we must constantly practice walking by faith in Jesus Christ. We align ourselves with His will and make decisions in line with righteousness. We do all this, not in our own strength, but by depending on the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.

Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Constant practice of walking in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit will help us grow in discernment and faith.

My favorite place to find some peace and rest is at the beach. I grew up in Southern California and spent a lot of time at the beach. When I am able to go to the beach these days, memories flood back and soothe my soul. As soon as I feel the sand beneath my feet, I automatically begin to feel inner calm. Then the rhythm of the waves and the majestic flight of sea gulls lulls me to a quiet place. I am able to quietly speak with my God, worshipping Him and thanking Him for His blessings. I can sit and stare at the ocean or lake for hours. When I get ready to leave, I feel like I have rested for several days.

My wife finds her rest in the mountains. Perhaps you have a special place that brings you peace and rest. We are all seeking rest from our many activities.

God has planted within us the desire to obtain meaning for our lives. We search in a variety of places and ways. Religion tells us that we must do certain works to find life’s meaning. Social sciences instruct us to behave in certain ways and strive for the benefit of all people. Business emphasizes the value of hard work to achieve success, which they suggest is the meaning of life. Everywhere we look someone is telling us that we must do certain things to find happiness and fulfillment.

God tells us that none of these instructions are true. Happiness and fulfillment is only found in resting in God’s grace. Instead of working to find life’s meaning, we just accept the abundant life that God offers. Accepting God’s grace involves first admitting that we can’t manufacture meaning and fulfillment on our own, that no matter how much we try we fall short of His standards. Then we are able to receive His offer of forgiveness and grace. Then we will find true rest for our souls. Hebrews 4:9-10 says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”

Find peace and rest for your soul. Accept God’s gift of grace.

Why is it so hard to find encouragement and to give encouragement? I am not talking about empty flattery, but words that reach down into the soul of another and bring light and hope. Every day I need someone to come to me with words that build me up. We are so prone to sarcasm, which while not always meant to harm, sarcasm can tear down.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The writer acknowledges the importance of encouragement, which he calls exhortation. Encouragement from others plays a vital role in keeping us from sin. Without encouragement we may seek fulfillment in sinful pleasures. The writer also states that encouragement is needed daily.

We all need encouragement and we all need it every day. But we also need to be encouragers every day. Try this for one day: leave sarcasm and complaining behind and give someone real encouragement. I guarantee that you will have a positive effect on the person you encourage. I also guarantee that your words will have a positive effect on you.

In the courtroom, judges and juries listen to and see evidence in order to ascertain the truth and make a valid judgment. Witnesses will attest to their knowledge of the events and circumstances. Pertinent physical evidence will be presented and evaluated. Scientific research will be added to determine the validity of the evidence. Statements will be made by attorneys for both parties. Then the judge or jury determines the verdict.

Faith in Jesus has its own set of forensic evidence. First and foremost is God’s Word and testimony. God has stated very clearly that Jesus Christ is His Son by whose sacrifice we can be saved. Then there is Jesus’s own words declaring that He is the Son of God and that He came to seek and save those who are lost. Next, we have the testimony of hundreds of men and women who heard Jesus teach and saw Him perform many miracles. Then we have the record of the miracles themselves, attested to by eye witnesses. Chief among these miracles was His own resurrection from the dead and His appearance to more than 500 people after His crucifixion. Of course, we also have the personal testimonies of all who have turned to faith in Him. Lastly, the book of Romans declares that creation itself bears witness to God’s glory.

All that evidence means nothing unless you choose to accept it and believe by faith that Jesus Christ will save you. You can choose to reject the evidence and live as though it is irrelevant. Or you can choose to accept God’s free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. You are your own jury. Will you exercise faith in God’s truth? One word of warning though. You are not the judge. God is the judge and He will exercise His judgment.