Saturday, November 21, 1998
Saturday, November 21, 1998
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3
NRSV)
In 1914 Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, an English explorer, led an expedition to the South Pole. As
the ice began to close in on his boat, he had to leave some of his men stranded on Elephant Island
as he went for help. He secured another ship on South Georgia Island and returned for his men.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the weather finally permitted him to sail through to where the
men were, pick them up, and then get out before the ice closed up again. Shackleton asked his
crew why they had their things packed and standing by when he came back. They said, "Sir, when
you left, you said you would come back for us, so we never gave up hope. Whenever the weather
looked favorable, we would pack up our things and say, 'Maybe Shackleton will return for us
today.' We were always ready for your coming."
We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. There is One who is
returning for us. We are not forgotten. There is one who has gone to prepare a place for us.
Prayer: My savior, Jesus, I'm glad my future is in your hands. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA