Walter
Remember show and tell in grade school? Remember when it was your day to bring something from home that was special so you could show your whole class and tell them all about it? Show and tell was a good chance for us kids to think about our treasures and try to explain why they are important. It was also a way to get us prepared to speak up in front of others. Best yet, it was a good way to prepare us Christians for our ultimate show and tell that will take place in heaven. It will go something like this*…
Jesus will say, “Johnny, it’s your turn. What did you bring with you to heaven to show everyone else? Don’t be embarrassed, we are all brothers and sisters here. What did you bring to show and tell?” John Deere will say, “well, I designed a plow to cut through Illinois sod and it transformed America, but I don’t have one here with me today. Even if I did, it would be all rusty by now”
Jesus will say, “Ok. Thankyou Johnny. Let’s have somebody else take a turn. Henry! Henry, will you show us what you brought to heaven for show and tell?” Henry Ford will reply, “O dear me, Jesus. I apologize. I made an assembly line on earth that revolutionized the automobile industry. I would really love to show off my Model-T. But the seats are all moth-eaten and the black paint is faded and I wasn’t allowed to bring one here to heaven with me.”
Jesus will say, “Ok. Thankyou Henry. Let’s see…Who is up next? How about you, Alfred? Did you bring something to show the rest of us?” Alfred Nobel will say, “O no, Jesus. I meant to, but I didn’t get around to it. I was so busy on earth, first inventing dynamite and then distributing all the funds back to the people. I’m sure you have heard of the Nobel Prize. But that prize was only meant for earth and I simply did not have time to bring anything with me here to heaven.”
And then Jesus will look at you. You will feel a lot out of place. You never invented anything spectacular and you probably don’t hold any patents. You are not renown around the world for your many accomplishments. In fact, you can’t think of any accomplishments worth mentioning. But although you were never impressive, Jesus knows you were faithful. So, you will stand up and walk over to Walter and grab him by the hand and say, “Here, Jesus. This is my friend Walter. I didn’t know what to say, so I just told him about you one day and invited him to church. He believed in your cross and resurrection and here he is! All because of you.”
And then, Jesus will say, “well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt 25:21).
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
*The characters in this story are used for illustrative purposes only. Their presence in this devotion does not imply their actual presence in heaven.