As I have celebrated another birthday, may I have the luxury of passing on some thoughts on getting older, and how we might spend our later years?
I am reminded of a story Pastor John Piper told in his book “Don’t Waste Your Life.” The story was about a couple who took early retirement, moved to Florida to “cruise on their 30 foot yacht, play softball and collect shells. Then he adds this… “Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy”
How many Christians look to the day they can retire and “enjoy life”, only to find themselves with a feeling that there must be more? What if that something more is to spend those years not doing nothing, but having time to “wholeheartedly serve the Lord?”
I find only one reference to “retirement” in the Bible, and it is that the Old Testament priests were to retire at age 50, and then to assist the younger priests. (Numbers 8:23-26 NIV).
Here is some perspective from scripture: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” (Psalm 92:12-14).
Solomon, to whom God gave more wisdom than any other man, said this at the end of Ecclesiastes: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
From the apostle Paul, we get the idea that the Christian has a responsibility to keep on until the end. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7) “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”(Philippians 3:14).
At the judgment, will you hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, or will you have only seashells to bring to the throne?
Just thinking,
Pastor Jerry
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