From The Cradle To The Grave Part [9] 06/17/2026 (Evening thought)

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, take heed, and beware of covetousness for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

On the flipside of Abraham’s missionary spirit and that of the Waldenses, there’s an opposite view of life, where the focus is centered on the here and now, and where the accumulation of materials absorbs all of one’s interests. In some instances, the driving motivation, and the highest aim in life is just to make more and more money. In the inordinate pursuit of temporal gain very many professed Christians forget their first love, and their desire for more becomes all absorbing.

When left unaddressed, this perspective can expend your best energies, and before you know it, there is nothing left for Christ, except some scraps of service, here and there, only when it is convenient. This is what occurred in the parable of the man who became all consumed with building up his temporal portfolios so that he could retire in prosperity, and ease. If a person’s highest aim in life is to retire with ease, then the time between the cradle to the grave will be fraught with anxieties, worries, and cares, so that acquiring would become the sole focus of their existence.

Luke 12:16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

From The Cradle To The Grave Part [8] 06/16/2026 (Morning thought)

Matthew 28:19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

[The Great Controversy pp 88] From their pastors the youth received instruction. While attention was given to branches of general learning, the Bible was made the chief study. The Gospels of Matthew and John they committed to memory, with many of the Epistles. Their garments were so prepared as to conceal their greatest treasure, the precious manuscripts of the Scriptures. Thus were brought forth the treasures of truth so long concealed by those who sought to exalt themselves above God..

These, the fruit of months, and years of toil, they carried with them, and, whenever they could do so without exciting suspicion, they cautiously placed some portion in the way of those whose hearts seemed open to receive the truth. From their mother’s knee the Waldensian youth had been trained with this purpose in view. They understood their work and faithfully performed it. Converts to the true faith were won in these institutions of learning.

And frequently its principles were found to be permeating the entire school; yet the papist leaders could not, by the closest inquiry, trace the so-called corrupting heresy to its source. By patient, untiring labor, sometimes in the deep, dark caverns of the earth, by the light of torches, the sacred Scriptures were written out, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Savior. Such was the spirit of the Vaudois Christians.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!