Do you have a Love for Work or a Lust for Leisure?

Today happens to be my last day of employment with the Boeing company at Kennedy Space Center. I am excited about the change, but not because it will mean less work. I will not be working less, but working differently. Retiring will enable me to more fully devote myself to pastoring Calvary Chapel Space Coast, a church family that I love to serve.

Lots of people talk about wanting to retire when they get older. Some see retirement as a way to leave their current line of work and enter into another line of work, possibly even volunteer work. On the other hand, there are those that see retirement as a way to leave work altogether, and enter into a life of leisure. That's understandable for those that may feel that they have been overworked and overstressed for a long time. But keep in mind, that true rest for you will not come through the absence of the pressures of work, or through the abundance of leisure, but rather through serving the living God as a follower of Christ!

Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29, and Jesus doesn't lie!

It sounds strange that rest would come through work, but in God's kingdom things tend to be upside down a lot.

God knows you have the need for rest, but the way to enter into that rest is to enter His service.

[This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Titus 3:8

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before, Christ the royal master, leads against the foe, forward into battle, see His banners go.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail; we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King, this through countless ages men and angels sing.

You can retire from your employment, but don't retire from the Lord's work! We are Christian soldiers. We are in a spiritual war. We must put on the armor of God. We must serve in His army. REST FOR OUR SOULS lies not in this world's leisures, but lies in Christ- in the midst of the battlefield, where the royal ensign of God, that is the banner and standard of Christ, is lifted high.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [i.e., banner, standard] of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious! (Isaiah 11:10)

AMEN!

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.