Yesterday, (Valentine’s day) a great pastor left us for Heaven. His name was Dr. Glen Cole and he was the founder of Capital Christian Center in the Sacramento area. He kind of “retired” but was asked to preach one Sunday for a formerly large church struggling to survive. Well, one Sunday turned into a multi-year ministry. He was found out in front of the church building Valentine’s morning. He was there to go to work; but God had other plans.
Do you plan to “retire”? Not that there’s anything wrong with that I guess. But show me that in the Bible. Seems to me that God’s greats were always furthering along His plans until the end. Moses. David. Jesus. Paul.
I think of another great man of God, William Jessup, founder of the university that bears his name. He kind of retired, slowed down. But he still spoke at senior’s events. He still visited others, and ministered wherever he could. He graduated to heaven on a Sunday night when His son, Bryce Jessup, his grand-son, Jim Jessup, were all to speak at a church of multiple generations serving God. Bill spoke. Then sat down and died. He died with his boots on!
I want to be vital in old age. I want to continue to serve the Lord. Maybe, I will be “free” to do more of the things that God has called me to—in my case, training pastors internationally. I want to finish well. I want to keep going. I want to die with my boots on.
How about you?
Tom
