There’s nothing more precious as a baby’s first year. All babies share a commonality. They all come into the world in a state of poverty, utterly helpless, and dependent on their father and mother for everything.
A newborn is born with nothing. They are born empty handed with tightly-clenched fingers. When they’re opened they’ll grasp their fingers or rattle. One of the first things they acquire in their early years is holding onto their bottle , blanket or toy. These are objects that provide security for the child.
As we get older the hands become useful in securing things. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to easily carry out daily tasks like eating or dressing, driving and even writing. All throughout our lives, we’ve got hands that keep our precious objects. We are clinging to houses, cars, and even jobs. A lot of people are seeking something that they can hold onto as a source of security. They think that earning money with their hands is the best way to achieve physical security. I’ve once seen an advertisement on a bumper that stated, “He who has the most toys has the most fun wins.”
But, Jesus said during His time on earth that “For what purpose can a man make who gains the entire world, but perishes in his own soul? Or , what can a man trade in exchange for the soul of his friend?” (Matthew 16:26 NKJ)
The missionary Jim Elliot, who was killed by the jungles in Ecuador was once quoted as saying the following statement “He isn’t a fool who will not keep what he doesn’t want to get what he can’t lose.
The most valuable possessions we have are our family and our children. We wish to stay connected to them for as long we can. It’s difficult to say goodbye once they leave home to begin their own lives, or when they are nearing the close the course of their existence. However much we hold on to our lives the inevitable death comes to everyone.
Someone has stated, “You can’t take it with you.” As one minister observed with humour, “You don’t see a U-Haul in a hearse behind a U-Haul.” It’s true for the material world. When we die our hands will be empty just like they were before we were first born.
Jesus told us “Do not put up treasures for yourself on the earth, where moth and rust ruin and where thieves enter and steal and take away yourself the treasures of heaven” (Matthew 6:19, NKJ). The leader of the Reformation Martin Luther put it this in this way “I have held a lot of objects in my grasp, but have lost them all and yet, whatever I’ve left in God’s hands remains in my possession.”
Anne Graham Lotz writes, “I think about the treasures will we find in heaven to prove our efforts and testimony on earth , if there are any? It is said that we cannot take anything in heaven, we are able to! We could take anyone else!”
Everyone has an element of commonality. We all have an immortal soul inside every human being. It’s which is the portion of our being that talks to God. We have the ability to hold God’s eternal hand, and we don’t have to go through eternity empty handed.
Jan White has compiled a collection of her columnists in her book “Everyday The Faithful Daily Life.”
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