Today’s Devotional – June 21st (How To Spend My Retirement Years)
By admin On June 21st, 2022.
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Today’s Devotional – June 21st
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How To Spend My Retirement Years
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Many people in their 50’s and 60’s are getting ready for retirement.
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And many of these are trying to decide just how will they spend those years…“Shall I take up golfing, or maybe fishing, or some other hobby?”
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Others are considering finding some minor occupation.
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Maybe becoming a gardener or a big-box-store greeter.
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Just some little job merely to keep one’s self busy!
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Many have saved enough money over the years to travel. And there are countless wonderful places to visit, enough to keep traveling for years!
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Still others plan to spend their remaining years with family and friends.
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And then there are those who plan to become snowbirds, going down south during the winter months, and then going back north for the summer months.
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And then there are others who simply want to putter around the house, doing various little projects and perhaps watch some TV and go to a movie or restaurant several times a week.
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Now these are just some of the typical ways that people wish to spend their declining years.
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Gardening – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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NO CONSIDERATION FOR ETERNITY
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So, what do all these scenarios seem to have in common?
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What bottom line do they all seem to share?
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Just what fatal flaw is there, if any?
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You see, all these various retirement plans seem to have one common denominator.
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They all appear to be based on the idea that there is no eternal life.
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They all are seemingly in denial that there is a Heavenly battle to win, and a Hell to shun.
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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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TEMPERANCE
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Oh no, to work at a job, if it is to meet one’s basic needs is absolutely necessary!
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Or to take the spouse on a vacation from time to time can be refreshing, if done in moderation.
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Or to have a little hobby on the side can be rewarding, as long as it doesn’t become an all-consuming lust.
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But to immerse oneself in such a leisurely lifestyle, while this world is in the midst of the great heated battle for the souls of all Mankind!?
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Does that make sense!?
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Barbecue – Dutch family – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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“…if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.”
1st Corinthians 15:32
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Now of course, the people of the world don’t believe that such a spiritual battle is going on.
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And so, why not spend one’s last few years on earth, trying to find and enjoy life’s last pleasures?
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That only makes sense for unbelievers!
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But such faithless lifestyles have nothing to do with biblical Christianity!
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Drunk Drinkers – Jacob Jordaens – The Feast of the Bean King – Google Art Project – US Public Domain
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I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE!
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On the other hand, the three apostles, Paul, Peter and John, knew the importance and value of eternal life.
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And none of these three men counted themselves to have “already attained, either were
already made perfect”. Philippians 3:12
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No, each of these men would merely, “press on toward the mark for the prize, of that high (and holy) calling of God, in Christ Jesus”.
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They knew that they needed a much deeper baptism, and a much greater resurrected lifestyle! (see Philippians 3:7-15)
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And so, dear Pilgrim, let’s look to such men as these for our examples and role-models. Let’s not look to the people of the world (nor the church) for examples!
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Let’s continue to fan into flames the gift of grace within us!
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Let’s keep ascending that upward pathway, walking as strangers and pilgrims away from this selfish world, and onward to the Celestial Courts of the Heavenly City of God!
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By so-doing, we will enjoy a rich reward throughout the ceaseless ages to come!
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – public domain
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Having said all these things, it must also be said that there are many retirees who can possibly combine their new lifestyle or hobby while continuing to study and contemplate God’s Word and continually praying without ceasing.
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These questions should be a matter of earnest prayer and soul-searching.
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A RETIRED COUPLE – RV on the road – NARA – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Give me that same fiery Spirit which ignited the lives of these three men…
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 1: Paul & John: Our Role Models)”…
…or you may also read…February 8th (Recommended Vacation Spots For Christians!)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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1st FACE…THE NIGHT-WATCHMAN
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“MOON IS CONFOUNDED”… The first face, a man’s face, is easy to see.
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It is that proverbial ‘Man in the Moon’.
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Most have seen it.
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Even as little children. (The other two faces are not so easy to see. But let’s concen
trate on the first face.)
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Notice that the ‘Man in the Moon’ appears as though he is looking down at the Earth.
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‘Shock and Awe’!
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That’s the look on his face.
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Sadness too!
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You might even see the tears running down his cheeks. (“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” Psalm 119:136)
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The Moon is spoken of as a “faithful witness”.
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God’s covenanted law is spoken of as a faithful witness as well.
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Listen to the Psalmist…
…It (God’s covenant with David shall be established for ever as the Moon,
and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.”
Psalm 89:37.
Notice here that God is comparing His Covenant to the Moon as a “faithful witness”.
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The Moon reflects the light of the Sun, just as Christians should reflect the light of the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus, who should be in their daily lives.
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And so the Moon fulfills the verse from Psalms which proclaims… “Praise ye him, Sun and Moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.” Psalm 148:3
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman
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TOMORROW:
” June 22nd (The Natural Man & Bible Prophecy)”
Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS STUDY #170 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain