by Jeremy Paschall
The following news item comes from the archive of “stupid criminal stories”:
Waylon Prendergast, 37, of Tampa, Florida, committed a spur-of-the-moment robbery while on his way home from a late-night drinking session. A very inebriated Mr. Prendergast forced his way into the house through an open upstairs window, filling a suitcase with cash and valuables before setting the living room on fire to cover his tracks. He then escaped through the back door and made his way home, chuckling all the way. Only as he turned the corner into his own street, however, and discovered three fire engines outside his house, did he realize that in his drunkenness he had, in fact, burglarized and ignited his own property. His comment:“I had no idea I had so many valuable possessions.”
I could easily use this story to illustrate the foolishness and dangers of drunkenness, and such would be a worthy use of time and space, but that is not the purpose of this article. Instead, I would like to draw your attention to Mr. Prendergast’s comment on his own stupidity — “I had no idea I had so many valuable possessions.”
Most of us live our lives without truly appreciating all that we have. We seldom stop to reflect upon all of the blessings that we enjoy every day — family, friends, homes, electricity, running water, food, clothes, etc. This does not even mention all of the luxuries that we have — televisions, radios, telephones, computers, cars, etc. I will confess that it was not until I traveled out of the United States and saw the genuine poverty in other countries that I truly appreciated the blessings that all of us enjoy in this country.
But there is one valuable that everyone possesses, regardless of their geographic location or economic situation. It is the one thing, above all others, that most people take for granted. And its value far surpasses the value of all that I have previously listed. What is this priceless treasure that so many so often do not value as they should? Their own souls.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.” (Matthew 16:26-27)
Consider how recklessly and carelessly many, if not most, live their lives without regard for God or His will. They fail to consider that their souls will live on after this life and stand before God in Judgment to be repaid “every man according to his deeds” (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). On that day, all that we have owned or accomplished will mean nothing. We will stand blessed or condemned according to how well or how poorly we have prepared to meet our Maker.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21)
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)