A minister, hoped to comfort the bereaved at a funeral by emphasizing that there was more to the deceased than just the physical body said, "What we have before us the shell, the nut is gone." Perhaps he said more than he intended for a solemn occasion, but the point is well taken.

The apostle Paul said, "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either." (I Timothy 6:7) When a beautiful child is brought into this world it is a marvelous work. So small and tender and innocent. Everything must be provided for the infant. The child comes with nothing. No clothes, no food and no shelter. The child brings no silver or gold, money orders, or gift certificates. Even though this is so, we realize we are getting a bargain. A treasure beyond treasures. Few moments bring as much rapture to the soul as holding that newborn babe. Yet the child comes with nothing, but itself.

Leaving this world presents the same situation. If we gather much or little, we take none of it with us. It's impossible to do. Try as we might, as through the building of magnificent structures like the pyramids and adorning the burial chamber with all sorts of costly items that belonged to the deceased, yet such a person leaves this world with no more than the penniless beggar who dies in the street. In the hands of our heavenly Father we will be presented as we are. We will bring no material thing from this world, as if to impress

Him with our status in this present life.

One thing we can do, is as Jesus said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;..."

(Matthew 6:20). We have faith when it comes to the electronic transfer of funds. A person will travel to some far away country without a dime in his pocket, knowing, trusting that upon his arrival he simply needs to punch few numbers into a machine and the money will be in his hands. Yet some mistakenly believe that spiritual service is a bad investment. Yet, if Jesus is right it's the safest and surest investment of them all. Someday when we travel to that ultimate far country, through our faith, we will find the transfer complete. Those who believe it's so, live it.

It has been said, "He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Someday we will leave this world. Wouldn't it be something if we could leave it as we came in, innocent and blameless, like a little child? Presented not once again to earthly parents, but to our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ? (Colossians 1:21-23)

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