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Like a candle
in the wind...
Like a candle in the
wind.... a candle can give light [1] to those about it and set a fire burning around
it...life is so powerful and yet so frail. No man lives to himself or dies to
himself.[2] Like a candle in the wind...so is our life! For what is our
life, even a vapor that appeareth for a little while and then vanishes away.[3] It
has been said when attempting to get to the root of a matter, follow the money. The
Bible has much to say about money and the end of our life has much to say about the way we
view the money entrusted to us by God. Will we be a light and a fire after our candle has
been blown out by the storms of life?
I was talking with a life insurance agent concerning various aspects of business and the
necessity to be prepared for the inevitable changes that come in to all our lives.
He indicated that many people do not have wills or plans for the time when they will be
gone. What a shame it will be to those who God has blessed with resources large or small
when the resources are left to those who use them to waste the life work of their
benefactor. Churches are often included in the wills of persons who were blessed by those
churches and it is only appropriate that this should be done. Is it not incumbent on
the benefited to carry out the life plans of their benefactor?
There is an interesting example of a man who left a legacy to his heirs and the unusual
results that followed. In his lifetime he had set a good example by thrifty living,
exhausting labor, thoughtful care to others, always in the light of being pleasing to
God. When this man died he left a will describing his legacy to his heirs and his
desires for them and the wealth he had bequeathed to them. As we know God has
designed the earth with sufficient resources of oil, coal, water and nuclear power to
provide all we need for our lives. This man left sufficient resources to take care
of his heirs for their every need for all their lives. Yet it is a documented fact
that many of his heirs have not even attempted to receive their inheritance and have spent
their lives in poverty. We might ask, " Why has this happened?" Some
of his heirs have worried themselves sick emotionally not stopping to read their copy of
the will and the riches that are theirs simply by claiming them. Some of his heirs
have taken his legacy and wasted it on frivolous living, spending it on pleasure,
possessions and pride.
But there is an interesting twist to this story. The man who everyone believed was
dead [4] is not dead but has been watching how his heirs are handling their legacy with
the promised intention of giving them an inheritance that is exceedingly above anything
they could dream of in their fondest imagination.[5] This story has a sad ending for
many of the proposed heirs because of their unwillingness to carry out the terms of their
inheritance. But many of the heirs are already scheduled to be rewarded in front of
all.[6]
In the broadest application of this story, we see the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ
giving all mankind the opportunity to recognize Him as their Saviour and Lord and choose
to carry out His desires for this world given for the use of mankind. The Bible is
God's word and clearly states "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing
that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needeth any thing, seeing he giveth
to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of
men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply
they might feel after Him and find Him, though He be not far from everyone of us; for in
Him we live, and move, and have our being….for as much then as we are the offspring
of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but
now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the
which He will judge the world in rightousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof
He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." [7]
But in the specific application of this story, we see our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of
the Church having given to us His heirs, all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in
Christ,[8] commanding us to be His ambassadors[9] telling all that God has reconciled all
who will believe and receive His legacy of eternal life. Our Lord has promised to
reward all who carry out His will with exceeding great and precious promises.[10]
Some day we will be like Him for we shall see Him like He is![11] Why do His heirs
fail to appreciate His legacy? Could it be that His heirs have not read the
will?[12] Or could it be that they don't care about His desires for them?
Maybe they are too busy with life? In any case, they are losing the day by day
opportunities to share in their inheritance and they stand to lose a lot more when the
candle of their life goes out here on earth!! Like a candle in the wind....
Ref.[ I] Matt.5:15-16; [2] Rom.14:7; [3] Jam.4:14; [4] Lk.24:1-8; [5] ICor.2:9-10; [6] I
Cor.3:11-16; [7] Acts 17:23-34; [8] Eph.1:3; [9] II Cor.5:17-21; [10] II Pet.1:2-12; [11]
I Jn.3:1-3; [12] II Tim.2:15
By Ken Krater, Upper Room Sunday School Teacher
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