By Bob Long 

At 78 with 50 years of ministry and almost 60 years of marriage, I could reminisce about the past seasons of my life and talk about retirement, but scripture exhorts us to “forget the past and reach forward to those things which are ahead; pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 3:13-14)

I am anticipating with great joy the adventure that awaits me in this next season of my life, because I am daring to go farther with God rather than just take retirement.

There is no retirement in the Kingdom of God. 

Even though the priorities of my wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are high on my list, my ministry continues. 

First, I must start out by thanking Jesus for starting my salvation walk. He took my sin nature to the cross and washed my sins away by His shed blood - giving me eternal life as He defeated death by His resurrection. 

Every day is an adventure as the Holy Spirit - who Jesus left on earth to help us, comfort us, convict us, guide us in all truth - leads me in that upward call of God for my life.

In that upward call of God in Christ Jesus - we have everything “necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us and has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

“Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” (Philippians 3:15-16)

Sometimes the teaching of waiting on God while at the same time only doing what has been revealed to us so far has caused much of the church to remain on a plateau and in a comfort zone. 

This comfort zone has allowed fear and intimidation to stop us oftentimes from pressing on to the goal and the prize of God’s upward call. 

Many times we have to step out in faith – even in the darkness – not completely knowing the full plan, but being willing to walk with Him. 

God is beginning to shake the Church out of fear and intimidation that the world’s system has put on us. We can then in faith fearlessly let God arise in our midst, take courage, looking to the commander of the army of God. We are going forth not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ - knowing it is the power of God unto salvation.

We were created to regularly and boldly share this good news about Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection - as mature Christians that God has trained and prepared through fiery trials. 

Remember that we enter the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. I am talking about that present, powerful, spiritual Kingdom that Jesus tells us to seek first and invites us into His story to pray that His will be done – “on earth as it is in heaven”. (Luke 11:2)

It is truly God’s desire to give us His flock - His Kingdom. 

His Kingdom is also a government made up of the unified body of believers that by our love for one another - the lost will see, believe in and receive Jesus. 

We will want to become a part of the army that is being made ready now – the pure and spotless bride. I know I am already a part of God’s army - clothed with His armor on. God has been preparing my heart, soul and body for this season of life. 

He has given me favor over the last 25 years - opening doors to pray and minister in the business community, the city and county government, the police, and sheriff’s departments, as well as to minister on Facebook and to veteran’s families as Chaplain of the County Veterans Honor Guard. 

God is telling us like He did Elijah to get up and get out of the cave of fear and intimidation. There are thousands that haven’t bowed their knee to Baal! God has and will continue to prepare and equip us for this next season. 

Hebrews 5:12-14 says - “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Then going on into Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this [b]we will do if God permits.”

You are not too old, friends.

It is not too late for us to impact the Kingdom of God - especially believers leaning on God’s wisdom and guidance.

Scripture reminds us in Psalm 92:13-15 “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him….”

It is time for us to find faithful, teachable men and women who are willing for us to prepare, commend and release them into the ministry as we encourage them to walk through the doors that God has given them. All of this is to impact our generation for the Great Harvest of souls that is coming. 

God is preparing us - a mature Church - to evangelize and bring in the harvest for His Kingdom. 

There are those in the Church who are satisfied to have the foundation of Jesus in their lives without the rewards of building on that foundation. They have not had the experience of developing an intimate relationship with God and receiving His wisdom by walking in the fear of God. They haven’t received His understanding by doing His commandments. 

It is essential for us to find those who are willing and obedient to be discipled for the next Great Awakening and move of God. It is time for us to not walk in intimidation but go forth boldly in courage and faith and seize the victory prepared by God for His Army, for His Church, and for His Kingdom.

Adventure awaits – as we move forward to know God more – and be prepared as leaders to disciple the next generation. 

God is not done with me at age 78 and He is not done with you. Let’s go on that adventure together.