By DEREK RUMBOL
Tuesday 28 July 2020
Len was in his late eighties when he moved into a residential home and came to worship in our church. His favourite phrase was: ‘There is no retirement in the Lord’s service’. So there he was each Sunday welcoming people as they came to worship. There he was in the residential home enjoying games and willing to pray or chat about Jesus.
Retirement of course can open new doors and different ways of serving the Lord – never stuck in a rut.
That reminds me as we celebrate Ascension Day – and I hope this is not irreverent – that that is what Jesus did. Having completed his earthly ministry and by dying on the cross to bear our sins and the sins of the world, he rose from the dead. And then ….. watch this space! ….. he returned to his Father’s presence to rest and retire. … oops, sorry …. for him there was no retirement.
Hebrews 7:25 “He is able now and always to save those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Is that good news or is it not?! There is more: Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of God with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
When I visited Madame Tussauds I was climbing the stairs and asked an usher if I was going the right way – and then I discovered it was a wax model! So I got no help from him and was completely embarrassed. Jesus is no wax model!
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and for ever. He promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. And if Jesus makes a promise he keeps it!