Hey, how
quickly did you pick up on my play on words?
As I
prepare for and approach both retirement and eternity, I am struck at the
extent of such an inverse planning mentality there is in America, especially
among the so-called middle class, on these stages of life. We plan for
retirement as if it is eternal, and consider eternity as if it’s practically
nothing, or worse yet, like it is non-existent. Oh that we would all get our
perspectives right on this issue! And in case you missed it above, yes,
eternity is very much indeed a stage of life. 1
Retirement
is something most people look forward to. Even the increasingly techno savvy
criminal elements of our society and world, at large, look forward to your retirement.
They do this first, in terms of finding creative ways to hack into and steal
your retirement funds, and second, in terms of screwing you with fraudulent
deals on whatever they can entice you to jump at during your vulnerable years.
Some
preachers say The Bible is silent on the concept of retirement. But I recall
the parable Jesus told of a rich farmer who experienced a series of bumper
crops. He was selfishly motivated to tear down his barns and build bigger ones,
all in preparation for …retirement. In the story, he did not know his
selfishly myopic soul (or is it myopically selfish soul, or perhaps both??)
would soon be ‘required of him’. (Luke 12:16 – 21) Talk about
eternity beckoning!
The
Bible does, however, have a tremendous amount to say about eternity.
Believe it or not,
the certainty of
eternity
is the only thing
that is dead ahead.
(pun intended)
Some
believe we will be physically dead forever, thus escaping any perceived experience
of eternity. We won’t. It is an experience to which each of us
will have an up-close and personal, front row seat, so to speak.
So as
you check your monthly statements and balances on your Social Security payout, your
IRA (be it traditional, simple or SEP, Roth or otherwise), or your 401(k),
403(b), 409(a), 557, SARSEP, payroll deduction, profit-sharing, defined benefit
and money purchase plans (whew, what a
list!), please consider this little rhyme:
‘Retirity’ surely isn’t all it’s jacked up to be,
So open wide your eyes, so you can clearly see.
‘Eterniment’ is as immanent as it’s imminent,
Something of which you needn’t be so woefully ignorant.
There you’ll neither be dead nor gleefully absent,
But eternally alive and absolutely cognizant!
So while preparing good investments for your retirement,
Prepare some good vestments for your eternal lodgment. 2
The souls of many will be ‘required of them’...before reading such a message.
Thank God, dear reader, you’re not among them, and will hopefully heed my presage.
If you do, The Holy Trinity and Church will be your ‘fraternity for eternity’.
And faith in Jesus as Christ alone will be the ‘fidelity of your eternity’.
‘Lucidity on eternity’ is a ‘requirement for retirement’.
----------
1 The Lord’s multi-millennial strategy for humanity comprises 7 ages: (1) pre-flood, (2) post-flood/pre-cross, (3) post-cross (Church Age), (4) tribulation/great tribulation, (5) Millennial Reign, (6) post-Millennial Reign, and (7) eternity.
2 And to her [The
Church, Christ’s bride] it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:8)
On ‘Retirity and Eternity’ “Great Post”
ReplyDeleteI agreed that some individuals put more planning into their retirement than in their plans for an eternity, or as you stated “enterniment” there is that continually looking forward to retirement for some individuals. Yes! Yes, I agreed, especially those Individuals, who have acquired a certain life style, and are pressing to maintain the same high quality of life after “retirity”. It’s true, we make great plans, not knowing as Jesus said in Luke 12:6 to the rich man “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: Yes! it is far better to plan for and eternity than to plan for retirement. It’s also wise to plan, but plan with the thoughts of an eternity according to Luke 12:22 "take no thought for your life what you shall eat: neither for the body, what ye shall put on”. Luke 12: 20 “…your father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
It’s a matter of trust. What are we trusting in retirement or eternity? If we trust in an eternity, we seek things that are above. If we trust in a retirement plan, than we put our trust in the thing of the world.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou are also called and has professed a good profession before many witnesses”.
Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and claves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us”.
1 John 1:2” (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”.
1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that hath promised us even eternal life.
1 John 3: 3 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
This may not be a popular topic, but it is an important one. Hopefully, my play on words helped to make it an easier read. Few people enjoy buying and managing life insurance on oneself, yet it is a necessary part of life. Myles Monroe said something along the line that a person has not lived well until he is prepared to die well. Thanks for your comment.
Delete