One Day Later

On Saturday I celebrated my 60th birthday.  One day I was 59 and remarkably the next day I was 60, it was only one day later and somehow my age changed!  Friends and family gathered together to offer a surprise birthday party for me.  I was quite honored by the event.  Thank you for the many greetings and comments from friends, family and co-workers.
   At the age of 60 many people think it is a time to consider one’s retirement plans, there may be some wisdom in actually thinking about that before you are 60.  However I keep thinking, that it has taken God 60 years to get me to this point of maturity and development in my life. If I were to step into retirement and stop using what He has given, it could be a waste of what God has put into my life. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:13,14  “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
   I have nothing against those who retire early or those who quit ministering within the kingdom of God.  There is a time for everything.  I am concerned that it is easy to pull back when we need to be pushing ahead into greater productivity and usefulness in our Lord’s Kingdom.
  What areas should you continue to push into, because our Lord is wanting greater fruitfulness from you?  Are there areas that He would want you to pull back from, because you have completed that task which was before you?  For each of us life progresses forward, one day after the other. Thoughtfully ponder how you will use today, and how you will use tomorrow.