Reluctant Retiree

If we listen, we hear the sounds of celebration all around us. Proud parents rejoice at the first cry of their newborn baby, a toddler’s first word, their child riding a bike for the first time, a child scoring a goal or getting an A, or the same child graduating or getting married. How about the joyous cheer when a favorite team wins a big game? Then there is the shout when a friend or family member returns after a long time away. Routine celebrations of anniversaries, birthdays and holidays bring lots of laughter. While the celebrations may be more muted at work, we celebrate successes there as well.

Since we have all these causes to celebrate, it makes me wonder why so many of us walk around with a long face and grumpy demeanor. Maybe our busy lifestyles overshadow the joyful noises. Perhaps we just don’t stop to listen to the celebrations. If we do stop to listen, we can join in the gladness and offer our own chorus.

Psalm 100 gives us reasons to celebrate.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. “

Go ahead! Give yourself a break and celebrate! If you are God’s child, even make a joyful noise. But you might want to tone it down a little if you are in the office.

What would it take for you to deny your beliefs? What would have to happen for you to betray your values? Could someone force you to do something that causes you to sacrifice your core thoughts and motivations?

Of course, most of us do not know what we would do in extreme situations. Some people have faced this type of situation before, and, therefore do know how they will react. We have all heard of mighty acts of heroism when heroes stood and fought for what is right. We are grateful to our military, medical personnel and first responders for bravely standing strong on our behalf daily.

One story from the Bible clearly demonstrates what happens when men stand for the truth. It is the familiar story of Shadrach, Mescach and Abednego. These young men would not bow down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzer had set up. The punishment was to be thrown into a blazing furnace. In the face of this terrifying threat, these men responded, “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Why were they unafraid? Because they had established the issue in their hearts and minds before this situation came up. They knew the God whom they served. They worshipped Him alone. They knew God to be the only true and living God. They believed that God would save them and protect them from evil. Their faith was strong and secure.

By the way, God did save them. He is able to deliver you also. But we all need to settle the issue in our hearts. We will trust Him now before the blazing furnace comes for us?

What is your highest ambition? For some people, it is a conquest like climbing Mount Everest. Some seek fame like their face on the cover of a magazine. Others desire wealth in order to buy whatever they want. Some people just want control, like becoming the CEO of a major company.

All of these goals are worthy objectives if your focus is getting all you can from this life with no regard for eternity. They do, however, require singular and consuming attention to the goal. Little room is left for pursuing satisfying interpersonal relationships, self actualization, or enjoying the beauties of life. These pursuits also put aside spiritual sensitivities and seeking God.

Will these highest ambitions be worth it in the end? God, in the Bible, clearly says that we miss the whole purpose of the lives God gave us in the pursuits of this world. He created us to enjoy fellowship with Him and to fulfill the purposes He designed for us. We can’t return His love by pursuing worldly ambitions. I John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world nor things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Be careful where you place your affections.

Once again violence dominates the news cycle. It seems that people are increasingly finding that the only resolution to their problems is violence. So an angry mob breaks through security at the nation’s Capitol building to demonstrate their frustration with election results. A man shoots another man because he couldn’t get what he wanted at a store. A father kills his wife and children because she left him after a dispute. Riots occur across the nation due to racial injustice.

Where will it all end? Does violence ever bring the desired resolution? Is there a tried and true way to bring peace to these and other disagreements?

God says that He is the only true way to bring lasting peace and justice. Ephesians 2:14-17 says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.”

Jesus came not only to preach peace, but also to bring us together in one body. He has broken down the walls that separate us, so that hostility is done away with. Let’s not recreate those dividing walls, but rather allow Jesus to make us truly one in His grace and love.

People my age tend to talk a lot about the good old days. We tend to romanticize the days when we were young. Invariably we are of the opinion that those times were simpler and better. We long for those good feelings to return.

In some ways we are right that those days were better than today. But in other ways today is much better than the old days. In both cases we probably have much to be thankful for and some things we would rather forget.

I don’t think that it is bad to reminisce about olden times. In fact, the Bible repeatedly suggests that we do just that. We are often called upon to remember all that God has done for us. Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands.” By remembering God’s blessings, our complaints are turned into thanksgiving. We become much happier people. Today, focus on what God has given you, rather than on what you want.

What is the loftiest title that has been given to you? Perhaps you have been named Vice President or Chief Executive Officer of your company. Maybe you are the Chairman of the Board for a charitable organization. Were you the head coach of a sports team? Elder, deacon or pastor are honorable titles to obtain within churches. All of these titles, and more, bring a certain amount of respect and privilege to the title holder.

Once I was speaking to a group of pastors in another country. They decided to publicize the event in the local newspaper. However, they gave me the title, Most Honorable Reverand Doctor. I am none of those things. Sometimes honorific titles are given to people who do not deserve the honors.

God gives honorific titles to the people who believe in Him. I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Believers have not earned these titles. God gave them freely out of His grace. Notice that God does expect us to do something with these honors. He expects us to declare His excellence to others.

While these titles are great and glorious honors, the best title that God has given me is simply child of God. He loves me and that is the only honor I need.

I have never had anyone offer me a blank check. This type of check is signed and guaranteed by the owner and all you have to do is fill in the amount. The validity of the check depends upon the signature and resources of the owner.

I don’t imagine that you have received such a check either. Who would authorize this type of check. The owner would have to have virtually unlimited resources and a certain amount of trust in the recipient. The recipient would have to give assurances that the gift would be used within the parameters set by the owner.

Larger than the value of the check is the amount of grace needed to give such a gift. God has offered us a blank check of sorts. He said, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9. God’s intent for this gift is that it be used to fulfill His purposes. He trusts the recipient, you and me, to use it in according to His wishes, not selfishly. He promises to deliver if we ask and adhere to these conditions. His grace is sufficient for your needs.

People are trying all sorts of things to become “known “. Some do crazy stunts and posts videos on YouTube. Others take a million selfies and post them on Instagram. Some people record their every thought on Twitter or Facebook. I know some people who seem to speak everything that comes into their heads.

All of this is done so that they can be known to others. For some it is a desire to become famous, if only for a short time. But for most people it is a desire to be known on deeper levels. It is about having another person care about them and accept them for who they really are. In our highly paced and individualistic culture, we don’t often take the time to know and appreciate people.

There is One who knows everything about us. He knows our thoughts, fears, anxieties, weaknesses, strengths, hopes, and motivations. He formed us and He has great plans for us. God’s love for us is abundant, steadfast and eternal. Psalm 139:1-2 says, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.” We only need to speak and He will listen.

With the pandemic, a number of experts have appeared on the news. You have to respect their knowledge and experience. However, they are not always correct in their assessments and projections. We shouldn’t fault them for that as this pandemic has caused us to face a number of issues that we have not seen before. Still, we need to follow their advice as they have the best information available.

That does not mean, however, that we should follow the advice of everyone who claims to be an expert. For instance, I don’t listen to a financial consultant who is not better off financially than I am. We shouldn’t listen to marriage consultants who are not happily married and have been for many years.

So called experts offer advice on social, emotional, political, and religious interests. We need to be careful who we listen to. God has a lot to say about this worldly wisdom. I Corinthians 1:18-19 says, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will do destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'” Real wisdom is found in God alone. Real expertise is found in the creator of all things.

The other day, in the grocery store, I told a grocery clerk that I had really good news for her. I said, ” 2020 ends in two days.” She sighed and said despondently, “Yeah.” I am not sure that I cheered her up.

It’s probably because my comment reflected a rather negative outlook by focusing on the bad year of 2020. I really don’t know if 2021 will bring better times. I sure hope and pray that it does. I also pray that you will have a good year, more than the casual “Happy New Year” greeting suggests.

Selfishly, I also look forward to a year of blessings for my family and me. But I am more encouraged and excited about the eternal blessings God has in store for me and all those who believe in Him. The book of Revelations in the Bible speaks of the end times and eternity. God promises a new heaven and a new earth, where “He will wipe away every tear from their (his people) eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” And then God says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” God’s people will dwell in this new creation and in His presence forevermore.

So no matter what happens in 2021, I know that a glorious future awaits me and all those who trust in God. I hope to see you there.