Late Fall
If my life was measured like a year, I’m in late fall at the very best. I realize today or any day can be New Year’s Eve, God only knows. I turned 65 on June 1st. I feel my body is changing colors and losing leaves! “The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.” Isa. 40:7.
But fall is beautiful. As of today, I’m not done yet. I get asked a lot when I’ll retire. I don’t see that coming. I asked God about it and I got Matt. 25:14-28; “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And heal so who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”
In my 65 years I’ve learned a lot. Some things the correct way, by asking and trusting, most by taking the wrong road first, crashing and then asking directions. But either way, I’ve learned. That has been the wisdom, the only wisdom that has enabled me to be of any help or guidance to others in what God has privileged me to do these last 31 years as a comforter to others. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4
I feel better equipped now than ever to do what I do, so as long as I can, I’ll do it. The word says grey hair is a sign of wisdom. I’m not grey yet, but my hair is definitely not red anymore! (Is white the new grey?)
I still teach a men’s study on Wednesday mornings. We’ve been doing it for 26 years and some of the original group are still there. Out of the 40-50 guys on any Wednesday morning there might be 10 younger than me. I look out and don’t see old guys, I see wise men. I am constantly encouraging them to share their knowledge of the Lord with those around them, in word and in deed. The body desperately needs them!
What I see happening to so many is the enemy is getting their focus on the country’s, the world’s, and life’s tribulations. I don’t just see it with them, it is an epidemic plaguing the body of Christ. Anger and fear become the filter rather than love. Attention gets riveted on Satan’s reign on earth rather than the Lords’ reign from above. Fear paralyzes, anger retaliates, love motivates.
We are living in a critical time, not because of where we are in relation to end times, but where we are in relation to our time. What are we doing with our time?
So, how do we stay motivated? See what the Lord sees. When Jesus went to the wedding feast with his mother, (the only person who really knew who He was), her focus got distracted by worldly problems…they ran out of wine. This was a bad situation for the host. Jesus brought her focus back to Him and His mission by calling her “women”, not a derogatory name, but the beautiful name given in the garden, a name that reminded her that He created her, not the other way around. She didn’t know what He would do, but she readied those around her for what He could do, and did. He called her by who she was as He created her to be, not what she had done in the past or the present, and what she did next fit perfectly into His Fathers plan.
We need to think through the grid of who He created us to be, and as such, we are His ambassadors, shining His light into the darkness. Stay lit, by staying focused.
Pat