Baggage.  What does that word bring to your mind?

To some, the word baggage will bring to mind suitcases and personal belongings of travelers.  To others, Webster’s third definition may be considered: “intangible things that get in the way.”  To all, baggage will likely be thought of as a heavy burden.

Jacob Hawk recently flew to Nashville, TN for a speaking engagement.  He experienced some difficulties in his airline travel.  “I was delayed on my first flight, arrived late on my last flight, and lost my bags in the process,” he reported. *

The airline placed his luggage on another plane, so he had to wait for a few hours at the baggage claim for his belongings to arrive.  As he waited, he contemplated on some lessons about life learned from the baggage claim.

One lesson that Hawk considered was that every person has some “baggage.”  “We have those ‘stories’ and ‘items’ we don’t want others to see.  Some ‘carry it’ daily.  Others ‘check it’ with Jesus (the much better option), but the baggage still exists.  And that baggage is OUR baggage.  No one else’s.  They can try to claim it, but it’s the wrong bag.  They have their own baggage to carry.”

Hawk also thought: “There may be similar ‘bags’ on the conveyer belt of life.  Maybe the same size.  Or the same shape.  But our baggage still is our baggage.  No one else can take it home with them.”

Baggage, despite the varying shapes, sizes, weights, and types, is burdensome to all… especially when it comes to the “baggage” of our mistakes, our sins.

But Hawk also considered the Good News (the Gospel): “Jesus gave His life for us so our baggage wouldn’t be charged against us.”  “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV).  “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28 NKJV).

Because Jesus died for our sins on the cross, we can be freed from the burden of sin and enter into eternal life in heaven (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).

God will take away the burden of sin and give eternal life to those who accept His offer on His terms by placing our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to free us from the burden of sin as we continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Your baggage is too heavy for you to keep carrying.  In fact, it will destroy you.  “Check” your baggage in to Jesus.  Allow Him to take your burden from you.  Then, you will be free to live for Him and you can look forward to your eternal destination in heaven.

Let Jesus take care of your baggage.  Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* From “Baggage Claim” by Jacob Hawk in The Hawk’s Nest in Start2Finish.org, 8/13/17.

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