Reluctant Retiree

I confess that I am not very good at finding lost items. I tear the house apart looking for something and never locate it. However, I do have one failsafe method of finding my lost items. I ask my wife to find it. Invariably she brings me what I had been looking for in a few short moments. I am beginning to think that she hides stuff on purpose to test me.

Many people are on a lifelong quest to find meaning for their lives. They search for it in job security and wealth acquisition. Some seek meaning in various religions. Others look for truth in family and relationships. Some believe that political and social ideologies will give their lives meaning.

While people are searching and not finding satisfactory answers, God remains available to answer these and many other significant questions. He won’t force Himself upon us, and He won’t scold us for our search in all the wrong places.

The Gospel of Mark tells the story of a father bringing his son to Jesus to be healed of a horrible affliction. The father said to Jesus, “‘But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief.'”

Jesus did not rebuke this desperate father. Instead Jesus did have compassion and healed the boy. In the same way, Jesus does not scold us and reject us in our doubts. Instead, He understands our doubts, helps us through them, and heals our unbelief, if we will let Him. So come to Jesus with your doubts and questions. You will find compassion and healing.

Please don’t speak to others in the same way as our leaders speak to each other. They are constantly trying to tear each other down, questioning motives and integrity. They puff themselves up with distorted claims while mocking the acts of their opponents. Just the fact that they consider other viewpoints as opposition is both disturbing and frustrating. Sarcasm and outright attacks are common.

These speech patterns are not beneficial, in leadership nor in our personal lives. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What would happen if we changed our speech pattern to conform to the Biblical standard, rather than our leadership example? Instead of tearing people down we would be building them up. Instead of considering everyone to be our opponent, we would learn from and cooperate with each other. We would exhibit grace and mercy instead of sarcasm and unforgiveness. We would be thankful instead of complaining and grumbling all the time. A spirit of joyful enthusiasm would prevail over despair and pessimism. More would be accomplished because of cooperation and good will. This would be a environment that we all could thrive in. Let the change begin with you and me!

We once lived in the kingdom of Nepal. The royal family was revered by the citizenry. The king, or someone from the royal family, presided over all public events. A place of honor was always prepared for the royal family. They lived in a palace in the center of the capital. Every time they went from place to place, the streets were cleared for the royal entourage. If you met a member of the royal family, you were expected to prostrate yourself on the ground and touch the royal’s feet.

That is the world’s way to behave as royalty. Jesus displayed a much different approach to royalty. Although He is King of kings and Lord of lords, He came to earth not to be served, but to serve. Even though He could have commanded royal privileges, He chose to associate with the poor and lowly. He came, not to make a name for Himself, but rather to make it possible for us to take His name as His children.

So how are we to behave as children of the King of kings? We are to imitate Him, walking in His ways. Paul wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” As God’s children we are called to be humble, gentle and patient. We don’t assert our royal status, but instead we choose to serve others in humility, considering others as more important than ourselves. In these ways we shall be like Jesus.

What can people do to demonstrate real power? Is it by commanding the loyalty of many people? Could it be by lifting and moving heavy burdens? How about leading an army to a great victory? Some people think that we demonstrate power by successful business activities and obtaining wealth.

The Bible says that real power is demonstrated in our weaknesses. When we humble ourselves and confess our shortcomings God is able to give us power in our inner beings. When we reject this offer and try to work things out in our own strength and abilities, His power is not available to us.

Ephesians 3:14-16 says, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Real power is not seen in an outward display. Real power is known within us by the quality of our character. God promises to give us the power, through His Spirit, to be transformed into His image. In I Corinthians 12:9 God promises “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Believers trusting in the power of God’s Spirit are the most powerful people on earth, because they have God’s power available to them.

I walked through Cobus Creek County Park today. This nature preserve is centered by a small creek that also forms a pond at one point. I love to walk near bodies of water, so I usually find trails near creeks, rivers, ponds, or lakes. The views of natural bodies of water seem to restore and invigorate me. In the summer there is a lush covering provided by the forest. Nowadays the leaves have fallen and the trees are barren. While the forest has its own beauty at this time of year, it is still a little sad that the leaves are now decaying on the ground.

God gave the apostle John a vision of heaven, which John recorded in the book of Revelation. In the last chapter of Revelation, John wrote: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.”

To a lover of rivers, heaven cannot be described with more enticement. This river contains the water of life nurturing our eternal life with God. It flows from Him and never stops flowing. The river nourishes the tree of life from which we will eat forever. While God still has work for me to do on earth, I long for the day I am lifted into His presence and am seated with Him by the river of the water of life. I can’t wait to walk hand in hand with Him by the river. I pray that you will join us. All that is required is to trust in Jesus for salvation and to ask Him to be the Lord of your life.