Encouragement

---

The poet said, "I have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it. Forced upon me, can't refuse it..but it's up to me to use it. I must suffer loss if I lose it, give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it."
*******************
Ben Franklin wrote the epitaph that appeared on his tomb: The body of Benjamin Franklin (like the cover of an old book..its contents torn out and stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here.
Food for worms, yet the work itself shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by The Author.
*******************
One of the best things I've ever read on Heaven was a letter that C. Fred Williams printed in the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger:
"Looking to the Better Land"
Several months ago, a California pastor announced over the radio that on the following Sunday, his sermon subject would be "Heaven". During the week, he received a letter from an elderly man who was very ill.

"Next Sunday,' the letter read, 'you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it' he continued, 'it was given to me without money and without price.
But the Lord, my donor, purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation. The title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century, I have been sending material out of which the great Architect and Builder of the Universe has been building a home for me. This, my Eternal Home, will never need to be repaired, because it will suit me perfectly and it will never grow old!"

The almost unreadable manuscript indicated that the old man's trembling hand apparently paused for a moment before he was able to continue.

Then he wrote, "Termites can never undermine it's foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages. Fire', he said, 'cannot destroy it, floods cannot wash it away, no lock or bolt will ever be placed on it's doors, for no vicious person can enter the land where my dwelling stands. It is now almost completed and ready for me to enter and abide in peace forever, without fear of being ejected.

There is a Valley of Deep Shadows' the old man continued, 'between me and my home in the City of God. But I am not afraid...because my best friend went through the same valley long ago and destroyed all it's gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first became acquainted 55 years ago and I hold His promise in printed form, never to leave me nor forsake me. He will walk with me through the Valley of Shadows and I shall not lose my way."

"I hope to hear your sermon on Heaven next Sunday' the old man concluded, 'but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to Heaven has not date marked for the journey, no return coupon and no permit
for baggage. Yes', he said, ' I am ready to go, all of my
preparation is made. I gladly wait for The Captain to say 'All Aboard".

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE