Reluctant Retiree

Our youngest granddaughter just turned two. She is beginning to assert herself. The favorite question of most toddlers is simply, ‘why?’ They are trying to figure out their world, so they want to know why things are the way they are. Why must they behave in certain ways? Why can’t I do this?

As we get older we tend to lose some of our inquisitive nature and start to just accept things the way they are. Of course, not all of us lose the inquisitive character and all of us don’t lose all questioning habits. It is good to gain understanding and wisdom.

One question that we are all trying to answer is “Why am I here?” Another way to put this question is “What will be the end result of my life?” For believers in Jesus Christ the answer is certain with no room for doubt. I Thessalonians 4:16-18 says, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Those who have put their trust in Jesus will be raised up to live eternally in His presence. He has granted us salvation in order to live forever with us in the New Heaven. If you are a believer, rejoice, and give Him praise. If you are not a believer yet, today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait! Give your life to Jesus!

I can be so noncommittal about some things while zealously fervent about others. I generally don’t care what we have for dinner, but don’t you dare get in the way of me watching my favorite team. I may not mind if someone ignores me, but if I am saying something important you had better listen, even if you disagree. I do not fixate on the clothes I wear, but other people are not allowed to harm my loved ones.

On the small decisions, it is okay to be wishy-washy. However, on life’s big decisions we should be diligent to seek good answers. If we’re buying a house, we should get wise counsel and do our research.

However, it is not enough to just make informed wise decisions. We must then take definitive action in line with those decisions. In the book of Revelation, Jesus criticized and warned the church in Laodicea for being wishy-washy in their faith. He said, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”

This church, like some of us, had become complacent and thought that they did not need God. They considered themselves well off and therefore lost their love for God. Jesus, however, warned them that they were in great danger. They needed to repent of their pride and wishy-washy nature. If they did that, Jesus promised to give them clothes of righteousness and remove their sins.

We also need to repent of wishy-washy faith and pride. We must ask God to inspire within us a passionate love of God and a dependent, but active faith.

While at the beach yesterday I was watching the birds. Sometimes it takes a lot of energy and effort for them to get off the ground and make their way somewhere. Other times they are just floating in the air. The wind currents take them up or down, forward or backwards.

I once had the opportunity to fly in a glider plane. A powered airplane towed us upward and then I released the tow rope and we glided. Some air currents even took us higher. I was completely dependent on the air currents and skill of the pilot.

Faith can be a lot like both the birds and aircraft in flight. Sometimes we exercise faith by being completely dependent on God, our pilot. He works the controls and manages the currents to take us where He wants us to go. Other times, faith is obedience to do what He wants us to do. We are still dependent on Him to accomplish His will, but the task requires us to work at it, like the birds in flight.

James 2:17-18 puts it well; “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Good works demonstrate that we are led by faith and are growing in the knowledge of God.

My wife and I went to the beach today to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. I know that it doesn’t sound like a satisfactory romantic getaway for such an auspicious occasion. But, for us it was quite appropriate. We both have spent most of our lives in Southern California and love to be near the water. The sight of Lake Michigan immediately drew the tension out of us and replaced it with serenity.

The waves were small today, but they fascinated me. I was mesmerized. The waves came to shore, one by one and without fail. The lake is wide and deep, of course, so I could not see where the waves originated. Even though I am no longer on the beach, I know the waves are still coming to shore.

The Bible frequently describes God’s love as abundant, steadfast, and eternal. The waves reminded me of His love. Just as the waves kept coming, so does God’s love for me. Even though I can’t see His love at times, I know that it is always there and working on my behalf. His love is deeper and wider than I can fathom. Just as the waves give me peace, knowing that God loves me gives me a deeply satisfying peace. His love will never fail.

My wife and I recently bought a condominium. It is the first house we had in seven years, having rented an apartment during that time. As you know, there is quite a bit of back and forth during the process. First you bargain on the price. After that is agreed upon, you may negotiate on the closing date, repairs and other details. When all the parties fulfill their promises, closing day comes and you have redeemed your new home.

God’s redemption of His children is much more straight forward. Negotiations are not involved. We don’t wait for some future settlement date. Most importantly, we don’t pay any of the costs and cannot offer any additional value to the transaction. Jesus Christ paid the full price of our redemption on the cross. Titus 2:14 says, “God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Jesus offers redemption out of the pit of despair, destruction, and fear and onto the rock of His salvation, hope, and steadfast love. You can’t give Him anything to be redeemed. He already paid the full cost. All we can do is accept this wonderful gift of God’s grace.