Tom Hagan of Herald of Truth recently wrote about “200 Pounds of Trash”:

One of my favorite illustrations about love and family is set in China during the years between World War II and the Korean War.

Mao Zedong has taken control of the country and begun his purge of religion.

A missionary and his family were being forced to leave China after Mao and his communists took over.

A group of soldiers knocked on the missionary's door and told him that he, his wife and children, had two hours to pack up.  They would return to escort this family to the train station.  The missionary and his family would be allowed to take 200 pounds with them.

For the next two hours the wrangling and bickering raged.

"What should we take?  What about this vase?  It's a family heirloom; of course we're taking the vase."

"Well, maybe so, but this typewriter is brand new and I'm not about to leave it behind."

"What about books?  Paintings? Toys?"

They brought out the bathroom scale to weigh various combinations of stuff.  Mixing and re-mixing different items until they finally had a pile of possessions that weighed two hundred pounds.

The missionary and his family were quite proud of their final selections.

At the appointed hour, the soldiers returned.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Did you weigh your stuff?"

"Yes."

"It weighs two hundred pounds?"

"Yes."

"Ahh . . . did you weigh your children?"

"Our children?"  "Umm, no."

"Weigh your children!"

And, in an instant, the heirloom vase and new typewriter and books and toys and other "precious" stuff all became trash.  Trash!

None of their prized possessions had any value when compared to the value of their children. *

What is most valuable in YOUR life?

The Apostle Paul said: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

Why did Paul consider all of his other accomplishments and accolades as “trash” in comparison to gaining Christ?  He said, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

Jesus also died for OUR sins so that WE can be saved and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Won’t YOU recognize that the greatest Treasure is gaining Christ and access the salvation and life that He gives through your trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Source: “200 Pounds of Trash” by Tom Hagan in Hope for Life, a publication of the Herald of Truth.  2/1/18

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org