Looking Ahead Over Your Shoulder

DateLine (4/4/07 – Nanuet, NY)

I’m at that point in my life where I have to pay close attention to retirement planning. For my generation this means taking accountability for a personal savings plan since social security will either be inadequate or non-existent by 2019 when I need it. All of us need to spend some effort educating ourselves in investments in order to grow a nest egg to the point where it will sustain us through the inevitability of old age. While doing my own research into investing I was impressed at how many brilliant minds are in the field.

While acknowledging the talent in the field I was also struck by the inadequacy of tools and confidence in the results. The secret to investments lie in the future. The best tools in the field are to analyze future investment strategies by comparing them to past market performance; i.e. history is the best available tool. In spite of all the money at stake and the importance of getting it right, our future health and well being depend on it, there are no guarantees. There are no investment prophets. There are a lot of investment advisors but the best they can do is to give advice by “looking over their shoulder”.

One thing I’ve learned from personal experience, if an investment advisor guarantees results you should immediately bolt for the door. Market volatility serves as a constant reminder of our inability to see investment futures. Now here’s the point. God’s advice is in direct contrast to financial advisors. God doesn’t advise by looking back. God draws us to the future with foreknowledge of the outcome. We have the privilege of tapping into the omniscience of God through revelation.

While retirement planning is important, eternity planning is more important. The inadequacy of retirement planning tools is disconcerting but the sufficiency of eternity planning is unquestionable. Our “nest egg” is our feeble attempt to secure the future. The Easter Season reminds us of God’s gift of a secure eternity.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Now that’s a guarantee.