“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14
One of our all-time favorite family movies was the old classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The story is about the troubles of George Bailey and how he came to the end of himself and wished he had never been born. Then he realized what a wonderful life God had given him. Every life has a purpose! “Clarence the angel said, ‘Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole.’” Each one of us can make a difference in the lives of so many. The question is, will we live like Christians and be light to the world, or hide it under a basket? If lost people never see a light, they’ll never know they’re in darkness!
Moses and his wife Susan lived in Missouri, a slave state in 1865. One cold January night, Quantrill’s Raiders rode through Moses’ farm. They burned the barn, shot several people and dragged off a woman named Mary Washington who refused to let go of her infant son, George. Mary was Susan’s friend and housekeeper. Moses sent word through neighbors and two days later, he was able to make contact with the raiders for a meeting. On his black horse, Moses rode several hours north to a crossroads in Kansas. There, in the middle of the night, he met four of the outlaws. They were on horseback, carrying torches, with white hoods covering their heads and holes cut out for eyes. Moses traded his only horse for the dirty burlap bag they threw at him as they rode off in the night. Moses alone, knelt down by the side of the road and pulled from the bag a cold, naked almost dead baby boy.
Quickly, he opened his coat and placed the child next to his skin. Covering him with his clothing and relying on the warmth from his body, Moses walked through the night and arrived home the next morning. He sang to the baby and promised to care for him and educate him in honor of his mother whom he never saw again. That night, Moses Carver gave the baby his name. That little baby became George Washington Carver.
Every life has a purpose and our lives touch everyone we come in contact with. George grew up to become one of the twentieth centuries most loved and honored scientists. He overcame many social barriers and eventually earned undergrad and master’s degrees in Botany. He had a sincere desire to help southern farmers rebound from the damages of the Civil War and years of soil depletion by the planting of cotton. He felt the answer could be found in peanuts and sweet potatoes. He prayed that God would reveal to him the secrets of the universe. He told his friends that God replied, “Little man, you’re too small to grasp the secrets of the universe. But I will show you the secrets of the peanut.” He began each day with the prayer that God would show him the mysteries of the flowers, plants, soil and weeds so that he might help “Put more food in the bellies of the hungry, more clothing on the backs of the naked, and better shelter over the heads of the homeless.” The Lord honored his prayer. Through his research, Professor Carver was able to create 300 products from peanuts, including cooking oil, paint, medicine, beverages and yes, peanut butter, also created more than 100 products from sweet potatoes.
Every life is important to God! You might think you’re insignificant, but we all have a purpose. That little baby thrown away in a burlap sack was important to God! If you are living and breathing today, God has something for you to do. He prepares work for us in advance. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Your friend, Jean
Your friend, Jean