August 15, 2022 – Click here to listen
I had a long phone conversation with an old friend yesterday. We exchanged pleasantries and then he expressed his concern because he had not seen me at any national Christian events in a long time and was wondering if I had dropped out or what. I told him my eyesight had gotten to the point whereby I’m all but totally blind at night and if I were to travel my wife or someone would have to go with me to assist.
I laughed and told him I had guessed I was finally retiring and going out to pasture. But the retirement story didn’t end there. I bought a quiet little farm near the tiny city of Bentonia Mississippi and figured I would live out the rest of my life in relative obscurity living the simple life. I initially did not tell any of the neighbors or locals my testimony or much of anything other than I liked to fish, hunt, and the farm life, but somehow the new friends I have been making found out. I suppose God found His own way of telling people my transformation saga. And now a steady stream of local people with serious problems from alcohol abuse, drug addiction, marriage, rebellious kids, and so on are seeking me out for counsel, this in addition to all those whom I try to help that respond to Words for the Day or referrals.
I told my buddy who is involved heavily with his own highly successful worldwide ministry that I supposed God was not willing to allow me to retire and fade away and that He still had work that needed to be done, so now He is bringing a steady stream to me instead of me going to them. That suits me just fine, because I love to serve the Lord and it doesn’t have to be on a worldwide or national level. I have spoken in front of thousands of people, but I am getting just as much enjoyment meeting with people or talking on the phone one on one and to me leading just one lost soul to the Lord makes plenty enough difference to make life worth living.
I have talked with numerous friends and so on that wish to serve God but don’t have a big platform. I say don’t worry about it. We are all charged with telling the good news of Christ crucified and risen. It is in fact the reason we are here. And regarding retirement, it is not mentioned in the Bible aside from the Levites who carried ceremonial water for purification rituals. When they began to get some age on them, they transitioned from carrying heavy clay pots of water to teaching, guarding the tents, and serving the needs of the leaders. I equate this to not having to be on a plane and traveling constantly to staying home and having the good Lord bring whomever He will to me. It is much less exhausting and best of all I still get to serve. I hope that regardless of your age or even medical condition that when the Lord gently calls rise to the occasion and say yes Lord.
Acts 20:24
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.