Pressing on

I suppose for a lot of people, they look forward to retirement.  After years of working, they can’t wait for the day that they can finally rest and just do whatever they want.

But in the kingdom of God, there is no such thing as retirement.  We are always called to press on as Christians.  To continue to grow.  And to continue to make a difference for God in this world.

And that’s what God told Joshua in verse 1.  He said,

You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. (Joshua 13:1)

God didn’t say, “Okay Joshua.  You’re pretty old right now.  You’ve earned the right to just kick back and relax.  Take it easy.”

Instead he said, “You’ve accomplished a lot in your lifetime.  You’ve done well.  But you’re not finished yet.  There’s still lots to do.”

And he says the same to us.  I’ve been a Christian for about 30 years now.  And yet, I’ve not “arrived” as a Christian yet.

There are still sins in my life I’ve yet to conquer.  There are still areas in my life I need to grow.  I can’t afford to just kick back and relax when it comes to spiritual growth.

And though I’ve served God for many years, there is still much more to do.

I suspect even after I retire from work, I’ll still be serving God in some capacity.  Whether it’s preaching his Word.  Leading a small group.  Or just visiting people and trying to bless them somehow.

In Japan, the vast majority of the population doesn’t know Christ.  There is so much to do.  Hopefully we’ll make a dent in the next 40 years.  But until Christ calls me home, I can’t just kick back and rest.

And neither can you.  Let us always press on to be more like Christ, and to be his hands, feet, and mouth in this world.