Time Capsule

Bible Reading: Luke 12:13-21

On the one-hundredth birthday of the town of Brenner, Evie watched as the mayor unlocked a time capsule on the evening news that had been created and stored a hundred years before. He pulled several papers and mementos out of it and held them up to the camera.

“Can I make a time capsule for our family?” Evie asked when the news program went to commercials. “I could put family treasures in it for future generations!”

“Sure,” said Mom. “That would be fun.”

Evie found a box and placed some coins and a dollar bill from her desk drawer inside it. Then she packed in a DVD, a sweatshirt, and a storybook. Next she added an old teddy bear, swimming goggles, a beaded necklace, and a picture she had drawn. “Finding things for this box is fun, and there’s still room for more,” Evie told her parents. “When the next generation sees this stuff, they’ll get an idea of what their ancestors were like.”

“I think future family members will find the things you have in there interesting,” said Mom, “but if you want to make a statement about our lives, I think you’re missing the most important thing of all.”

“A family photo!” said Evie’s little brother, Walden. “So they can see what we look like.”

“What about a newspaper?” suggested Evie. “That would tell them a lot about the things going on around us.”

“Or we could write them a letter!” said Walden.

“Those are all good things to add,” said Mom, “but I’m thinking about something that makes life important and worth living, even without any of the other things in the box.”

“I know!” said Evie after a moment. “A Bible! And maybe a church bulletin too.”

“And we can tell them about Jesus in the letter we write to them!” said Walden.

Dad nodded. “Those are both good ways to show our descendants what’s really important to us. Any physical items we put in our time capsule will be old and worn by the time our future family members open it, but the hope and salvation we have in Jesus is treasure that will last forever.” – Nance E. Keyes

How About You?

What do you treasure the most? Money? Clothes? Toys? Good grades? Those are good things God gave you to enjoy, but they don’t last forever or bring meaning to your life. The only treasure that lasts is the salvation that comes through Jesus. Store your treasure in heaven by placing your hope and trust in Jesus and living in a way that pleases Him. (See “The ABCs of Salvation” in the column to the right.)

Today’s Key Verse:
Matthew 6:19 (NLT) Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Today’s Key Thought:

Store your treasure in heaven