Harry's Shoebox

Dr. Mack Craig tells the story of a man he knew several years ago named Harry.
Harry was an elderly gentleman when they got acquainted. His family had immigrated
to the United States from Russia prior to World War I to escape the harassment and persecution being suffered by the Jewish population there.

Harry enjoyed conversation, and he came to trust Mack. One day he asked Mack for a favor. "I need somebody to go through my things with me," he said. Their paths crossed with some frequency, and the request was made again and again. Having put Harry off as long as he reasonably could about a task he didn't really yearn to perform, Mack finally agreed to help. He went to Harry's place with a secret fear that he might be in for hours of sorting through countless keepsakes accumulated over more than eight decades of living. So he was a bit surprised when Harry brought out a single shoebox.

In the box were the following items: a picture of Harry's mother, his wife's death certificate, two picture postcards written to Harry by a cousin over 30 years before, and two yellowed newspaper clippings about projects that involved work done by Harry's building demolition company.

NO gold or precious stones.  NO stock certificates.  NO award certificates or diplomas.  Just simple mementos of life as Harry had experienced it.  They served as reminders of things that were near and dear to his heart.

So what are you putting in YOUR shoebox?  What is it that YOU hold near and dear to your heart?

The greatest blessing that you and I can cherish for eternity is to know that we have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men … [through] Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11, 14). 

To accept God's grace through Christ… the Bible teaches that we must place our trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), repent of our sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27). 
To continue to enjoy this blessed relationship… we must continue to walk in the light of His Word so that the blood that Jesus shed on the cross will continue to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Do YOU have Jesus?  Is He your Savior AND Lord? 

He wants to give you the greatest thing you could ever have: SALVATION.  And, He will… IF you will trust and obey!

God bless you.

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