Retirement Life... Really Retired?!?

The usual term 'Retirement' in connection with work life means withdrawing oneself from occupation due to age, frailty or any other disability to continue the job potently. A retired person normally does not seek another job as he (please include 'she' when I mention just 'he', and 'her' with 'him', 'woman' with 'man') finds himself unfit to work any more or has no more need to work.

People take work so seriously that they feel retired from life when they retire from job. It is fulfilling the curse put by God at the garden of Eden that man works hard to earn bread throughout his life. Today, most people end their life fulfilling the curse on Adam. They do not come up to the standards of Moses whose real calling to work for God came when he was eighty years. They get so immersed earning bread and also working for what is not bread, that they lose sight of the life after retirement from this world. The preacher says, "There is no work in the grave." That is true retirement and most men retiring from jobs fail to recognise the importance of that 'retired' life after the true retirement, that is death.

Retired Life Could Be More Meaningful

Many people feel that they lose the worth of their life when they retire. They feel impotent and a burden to others. This is because they have put their trust upon the money for which they served all their life. People around them also value them only for their money.

Man was not made by God to just earn a living, eat and die. If you have not found the purpose for which you are in this world, your life is truly worthless. You were made with a purpose - to glorify God and to bless mankind. If you live a clean, sinless life and have received pardon for every sin you committed, so much clean that you can be in communion with the Most Holy God, creator of Heaven and earth, then you have fulfilled the first part of the purpose - to glorify God. If you fall short in that (ask your true conscience to honestly reveal your true self), do not panic. Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for all your sin. When you acknowledge the pardon that He provides through sacrificing of His blood and life on the cross, and accept Him to rule over your life as your Saviour, Redeemer and Master, you are cleansed and you can have communion with the Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is forever. You will glorify God.

When your life glorifies God, the second part of the purpose of God in your life must also be fulfilled. You need to learn the commandments of God and teach your children and your grandchildren. You are blessed to become a blessing to others. If you have been redeemed, make sure that you redeem others too - at least your own children and grandchildren. If you have led at least one person to righteousness in your lifetime and you are sure that the person will walk with the Lord Jesus all his life, then you have truly made a treasure for yourself for eternity (the Lord promises a mansion for you up above). However, if you can see even one person in your family, among your descendents, your life is still incomplete and you have not completed the purpose for which you were sent into this world. How can you afford to retire without completing your assignment?

Recently, I narrowly escaped getting hit by a speeding car. The car was so fast and of so high power that I am sure, the hit would have been fatal. God saved me and I instantly realised the incompleteness of my life. Can I afford to leave this world having not accomplished the least bit of assignment God has given me? I immediately prayed to God, "Lord, not so soon... not so meaninglessly... not so incomplete... please give me life till I have accomplished something worthwhile. I am not willing to retire now." The Lord is gracious.

Retiring? What is Your Investment for Your Children?

When you retire from job, you may get a pension, along with a huge amount of money as investment which you may leave behind for your children (or to strangers) who may probably use a part of it for your funeral expenses... and then what? You never know. But my parents have made a huge investment for me... their tear-drenched prayers for me. I know that the prayers that they have made will not go a waste as I see unexpected blessings, undeserved favours and inexplicable covering upon my life as a result of their prayers. I know, the effect will remain for generations to come because God has promised so. He is the One who answers prayers.

King David says, "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread." This is a sure promise from God that if your life glorifies God, your children will lack no good thing in life. At the same time, the curses upon your life will also be inherited by your generations. Now is the time you can set right your accounts with God. If not for your own sake, consider your children and grandchildren whom you will leave behind. You can leave curses for them or blessings upon their lives - the choice is in your hands - now.

A New Beginning - Here and Now

Some people visualize (or fantasize) rebirth after death. But the true rebirth is when you die to your self, die for the sinful body, die to your past and start living for the glorious eternal life, living in the spirit, living to glorify God. Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. If you have to plan for your true retirement, it is here and now! If you are willing to accept the new beginning that the Lord Jesus Christ wishes to give you, say this prayer with all your heart and commit your life to Him. He will lead you, because He is the way, the truth and life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that You are the Son of God who came into this world to reconcile man to God. Through Your sacrifice upon the cross, You have earned pardon for all the sin of man, including mine. I acknowledge the pardon that you are giving me now. I confess my sins (please pause and bring to your mind each and every sin you have committed against God and against man). I receive your forgiveness for all of those sins I have confessed and I promise never to commit them again. Give me the strength to overcome my fleshly desires. Lord Jesus, take control of my life. I commit my life to You, accepting You as my Saviour, my Redeemer as You have redeemed me from the wages for my sins, my Master and Lord. Take control of my heart, my thoughts, my entire life. Thank You for making me worthy to become a child of God, the Heavenly Father. I thank You for the peace You have given in my heart (experience it deep in your heart). I give you all the glory, honour and praise. Amen.

God bless!