A. THE END OF THE GAME IS RETIREMENT
1. Retirement doesn’t happen at a chronological age, but at your age of choice. Retirement should be dreamed, planned, and worked for, then enjoyed.
2. Life is a journey to retirement.
- You are gonna get in the game whether you want to or not.
- You are in the game and cannot come out.
- You must play your best, or get your brains beat out.
- You don’t determine when the game is over, so plan to give your best to the end.
- You must play by the rules, or you get penalized.
B. THE GAME OF LIFE
1. CHILDHOOD: FOUNDATIONAL YEARS
• Receiving: children get all the presents.
• Mistakes don’t count: cannot walk without falling.
• Learn basic skills of life.
• Live what you have been given: do what you have to do.
2. TEEN YEARS: EXPERIMENTATIONS
• Detachment: making new relationships.
• Independence: determine who you will be.
• Making dreams into actions.
• Changing dreams.
3. TWENTIES: PREPARATION
• Pre-season training camp: learning the plays.
• Forming attitudes and values.
• Pre-game warm-up: no one expects perfection.
• Learn from your mistakes.
4. THIRTIES: LOCATION
• You can’t win the game in the first quarter, but you can lose it.
• Getting started right helps you play right.
• Application of work habits, attitude and goals.
• Testing what you learn so you can begin again.
5. FORTIES: ADVANCEMENT
• You know for sure your strengths and weaknesses.
• 40s is the second quarter; you should know what doesn’t work.
• If you are locked into a game plan that doesn’t work, no advancement.
• Keep doing what works.
6. FIFTIES: PEAK YEARS
• You’re in the second half of the game. You win or lose in the locker room,
i.e., re-assessment.
• You can start over again.
• You can get different players in the game.
• At halftime you can make up lost ground.
• Life is won or lost in the second half.
7. SIXTIES: THE CLOCK IS TICKING
• You can’t start over, but you can make up lost time.
• Time becomes more important as the end is in sight.
• You’ve got to make every effort count.
• Mistakes are treacherous.
• You get a second wind when the goal is in sight.
8. SEVENTIES: HARVEST TIME/THE GAME IS OVER
• You have got to know how to celebrate.
• “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die” (Ecc. 3:1-2). A time to retire.
C. PLANNING FOR THE FINAL PLAY
1. You have to think differently. You plan differently for a marathon than you do for a
sprint.
Long Haul
-Pace yourself
-Think steps
-Partnership
-Feed off crowd
-Adjust to circumstances
-Keep back reserve
Final Shot
-Give all
-Think win
-Do it yourself
-Forget the crowd
-Use what you have
-Risk all
2. You practice the final play.
• Plan small. What you will do each day in retirement.
• Plan big, retire with a goal.
• Plan to expect and accept the unexpected.
3. You need others for the final play.
• Don’t give into your “hermit” nature.
• Don’t get self-reliant.
• Don’t cut off family, friends, work associates.
4. How to take the final shot.
• Do it like you have always done it.
• Do it confidently. Feed your assurance.
• Don’t think negatively.
-• You can fail, but you are not a failure.
-• You can stumble, but you are not a quitter.
-• You can help another; you don’t need to be the star.
-• You can miss, but you have given your best.
• Don’t hold back, there is not another chance.
• Take the shot, someone has to do it.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
