The Matthew 25 stories are analogies to illustrate what God expects from us beyond simply believing in him and the resurrection event. 

True belief demands we adopt its mission and here’s how these analogies are affecting me now. 

To wait until my forced retirement, old age, encroaching serious health issues, and sharp reduction in real life social connections to decide how best to be a bold soul-winner for Christ puts me late to the party and seemingly disadvantaged.

Flogging myself with a lifetime of regretful shoulda coulda wouldas won’t change much of anything except to pave roads for continued delays and reduce my chances to be truly effective at this “new” mission of my old age. 

But to know he weaves all things for his good despite my delays still feeds my confidence whether I have days, weeks, months or years of punches left on my dance card. 

Maybe it’s prompted by the belated reckoning of my own mortality or it’s just taken these many years of experience to bring about the conscious realization that my faith “should” have accrued a lot more works by now, is water under the bridge. 

Using my talents and zeal to advance the kingdom of God in lives of others I want by my side when I’ve finally crossed over to eternity is where I’m seeking this late-in-life momentum.

I believe I’ve accomplished much for others in my life and I’ll continue because that’s just who I am, but I have fallen short when it comes to helping lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus as their own personal Lord and savior. 

So this is my conviction and call now. 

My prayer will be for God to clear paths, open doors, and cause me to be spiritually responsive to prompting by the Holy Spirit. 

Today is my new day and the remainder of the rest of my life begins now.