Reluctant Retiree

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.

As my wife were walking along the Mill Race Canal Trail this afternoon, we stopped and watched as a very tall tree was cut down. Although it was interesting to see, it also brought a sense of sadness to me. The tree was majestic and provided beauty and shade along the canal. I suppose that the men were just doing their job and clearing the land for a new home. I wonder if the future occupants of this home will consider the natural beauty that was lost in the construction of their home.

A very special tree is featured in the Bible, from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, to Revelation, the last book. This tree is called the “tree of life.” In Genesis, this tree of life is mentioned in connection with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve sinned by eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, despite God’s command not to eat of that tree. Sin and death entered into our world by their disobedience. As a result, God removed them from the paradise of Eden so that they could not eat of the tree of life.

Therefore, we all are also separated from the tree of life. That is until the end of time. Then, those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, will be given bright clean robes of righteousness, so that we can have the right to the tree of life. We will also be granted access to the Heavenly City and the presence of God. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will not enter the Heavenly City and will remain away from the presence of God in eternal torment. Revelation 22:14-15 says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Believe me, you do not want to be on the outside in that day. God loves you and wants you to be with Him. Only self-sufficient pride can keep you away. Why not surrender to His love today?

A farmer doesn’t sow seeds only in a corner of his land and expect to reap a crop equal to one where seeds are planted in all the field. Farmers also don’t sow a few seeds and expect a large harvest. In order to maximize the farmer’s harvest, the farmer must plant a large amount of seeds over all the fields.

Why don’t we understand that this same principle applies to blessings? Sometimes we can’t understand why we are not receiving the blessings we desire. We want to be loved but we are not loving others. We want to have friends but are not friendly. We want to be forgiven, but we withhold forgiveness from those who have hurt us. We want help with our projects but rarely volunteer to help others.

II Corinthians 9:6 says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” This verse is speaking specifically about giving money, but it also applies to giving love, kindness, forgiveness, joy, peace, our time and our talents. If we want to receive these blessings, we must first be givers of the blessings. Let’s constantly be looking for ways to bless others and see if the blessings are not returned to us in some way.