Reluctant Retiree

My wife and I just returned from a four day trip to central Michigan. We were treated to some spectacular scenery as we hiked through several county and state parks, along with some wildlife and nature preserves. The fall colors were in full display as the trees shimmered in the sun. We also enjoyed majestic rivers and lakes. The natural beauty filled our souls with wonder.

I Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” God has prepared and is keeping an inheritance in heaven for those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ. Unlike our natural surroundings, which are beautiful, our heavenly inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. The beauty we behold in the lakes, rivers, forests and nature preserves does not compare to the majesty of our heavenly reward. I rejoice in the beauty of both, but I can’t wait to behold what God is storing up for me in heaven.

Halloween just passed, a time when dressing up in costumes is not just acceptable, but encouraged. Along with the scary costumes, people dress up as their favorite characters and famous people. Some people are expressing the scary theme of Halloween, while others are trying to make a statement. While you can tell a little about a person by the costume they choose, it is not a reliable guide to evaluate character.

God wants us to put on special garments, as well. These garments should be fully representative of who we are. Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another.” God expects us to put on the garments of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. We do this not because it is commanded, but rather as a result of the great love He has bestowed on us, such that we are called His beloved. We cannot muster up these qualities from within ourselves. Instead we can trust in His Spirit to empower us to reflect His love through us. If compassion and kindness are the clothes people see on us, then it is evident that we are followers of Jesus. If people do not see the garments of humility and meekness when they look at us, then we cannot expect them to see Jesus in us.

Awhile back a television show featured a magician/illusionist revealing how magic tricks were performed. To those of us who consider ourselves to be logical, reasonable people, this show filled in the gaps for us. We could see what was done behind the veil, so to speak. We could see what was intentionally withheld from the audience’s view.

I admire artists of all types, because they seem to see, hear, and/or feel things that I don’t easily recognize. They are then able to put these invisible things into the visible format of canvases musical scores, literary firm or sculptures. They help me to see what I have not previously recognized, but was there all along.

God has done the same thing for us. He has made Himself known to us, including His invisible attributes, through His creation. We can look and see His eternal power and divine nature. We can behold His wonder and beauty. We can begin to feel His love for all creatures, including us. Romans 1:19-20 says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”

Look around you and see what God has done. Thank Him for His great power and for the love He has already shown you.

There was a time, not long ago, when I did not treat my body or mind well. I ate whatever tasted good to me without a single thought about its nutritional value. I didn’t exercise because it hurt too much. On the mental side, I didn’t read books or otherwise exercise my brain. I spent a lot of time sitting and watching television. As a result, my weight ballooned up and I just became lazy in every way.

Then I received a wakeup call in the form of brain surgery. I realized how casually I had treated my life. I hadn’t taken care of my mind, body, or relationships. As a way to recover physically I started walking. At first, it was only for about 5 minutes. It grew longer and longer to about 10 miles per day nowadays. Being retired, I had time to read and now had a new desire to do so. I have been reading up to 20 books a month. Thank God for ebooks available for free from the library. I also spend time in mental exercises daily and hardly watch any television anymore.

However, the biggest change has taken place in my spiritual life. I have always had daily devotional times in the morning. But now I am making a concerted effort by God’s grace to read scripture and pray throughout the day. It has revolutionized my walk with God.

But I can’t do any of this in my own strength. I have to constantly submit myself to the power of God. I Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” God has given each of us a body, mind and soul. He expects us to treat them with the respect and care due to His temple. Be careful what you put into His temple and what you choose to do with His temple.

When our children were young, Christmas was a great time. We enjoyed the family togetherness and joy surrounding that season. We have many cherished memories from those Christmases. Except for the frustration of assembling toys and electronics. I was like a lot of males and usually started putting together these gifts without looking at the instructions. After much unsuccessful effort trying to put Part A into Hole B, and wasting considerable time, I would relent and consult the assembly directions.

I have since used a similar approach when acquiring new cars and electronics. The approach still does not serve me well. I need to consult the Owner’s Manual first. Besides wasting a lot of time and effort, I am finding that I miss out on a lot of the functions of these purchases by not consulting the manuals. While putting things together my way may be intuitive for me, it doesn’t consider what the manufacturer had in mind.

God wants us to consider what He, as creator of all things, has in mind whenever we begin anything. He gave us the Owner’s Manual in the Bible, which tells us how to live righteously. And He gives His Spirit to those who trust Him with their lives. His Spirit teaches us truth and the thoughts of God. I Corinthians 2:11-12 says, “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” Don’t be like me and fail to consult the Owner’s Manual for life. Read God’s Word and trust God to reveal Himself by His Spirit. You will rejoice in the functions you have been missing out on. More power is available to you.