“One of my neighbors is quite elderly,” Stan began. “I spend as much time with him as I can because he’s such an inspiration to me.”
“Inspiration?” I said. “How so?”
“He’s a deeply-committed Christian,” Stan replied. “He has proceeded a long way towards spiritual maturity, but each day he continues to seek a still-deeper faith walk.”
“Not content to just wait for the train,” I said.
“Exactly,” he replied. “Even though he is greatly looking forward to stepping into eternity to be with God forever, he is still seeking to know God more deeply before then so he can share that knowledge with others.”
“How does he share that knowledge?” I asked.
“In times past when he was younger and could get around more easily, he spent a lot of time with others just like the two of us do each morning.”
“However, now that he is pretty much confined to home, he takes advantage of modern technology to continue what God has for him to do in mentoring others.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“He’s quite adept at using the computer to stay in touch with a lot of people.”
“Emails and texting?” I asked.
“That’s right,” Stan replied. “My neighbor says that in addition to physical frailness, he is also losing his hearing so he can’t use the telephone as well as he could, but the keyboard speaks for him.”
“And how long does he intend to keep that up?” I replied.
“As long as God allows,” he replied. “My neighbor has the view that it’s a great privilege to serve God in whatever way he can for as long as he can.”
“Sounds like the word ‘retirement’ is something your neighbor doesn’t recognize!”
“Oh, he recognizes it,” Stan replied, “he just doesn’t accept that it’s something that’s up to him. His view is that God will tell him when it’s time to retire into His eternal presence. God will let him know when it’s time to return to the train station!”
_______________________________
Bible verses to consider:
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psalm 71:9.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all of the time you allow me to have while you keep me on this side of eternity. Thank you for the truth that you want me to utilize that time to pursue deeper spiritual maturity regardless of how old I become. I confess that too often I choose not to pursue a deeper knowledge of you because I think I know enough and am content to just wait for the train. Please help me in following your lead into as deep a relationship as you have available for as long as you keep me here. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Pursuing an ever-deeper relationship with God is to continue for as long as we live, regardless of how long that may be. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? What is the danger of spiritual retirement? Can it occur regardless of how physically old a person may be? Where are you with that? Where would you like to be? If you aren’t where you would like to be, do you know how to get there?
Waiting for the Train 