Unclaimed gifts

I came across an interesting fact recently. It seems that the US government is holding some $40 billion in unclaimed funds in its coffers for either unknowing or uncaring Americans. Billions more in unclaimed monies are being held by the individual states, banks and businesses. But surely, if people knew that such monies were being held in their names, then they would reach out to claim it, right?

Even more, billions of people in the world today have unclaimed personal gifts of “forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life” being held by our Lord Jesus Christ just for them in the heavenly realm ... gifts that would change their lives FOREVER ... gifts that would bring more love, joy, peace and hope into their lives than they could ever imagine ... gifts that He purchased some 2000 years ago on the cross at Calvary!

Yet, sadly, most don’t even know that such a marvelous personal gift is being held for them by Jesus and that all they need to do is to turn to Him with a grateful heart and claim it directly from His hand! May we, as the Lord’s “ambassadors” and “messengers of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:20) be quick to tell them so that they, too, might share the gift of Jesus that we treasure so deeply.

Even better than Christmas, this time of Easter reflection and celebration would be a great time to let those in your sphere of influence know of the marvelous unclaimed gift being held just for them. It truly is the gift of a lifetime!

Ken Welborn is a member of Stamford Baptist Church in Stamford, CT. He previously served as a North American Mission Board missionary and is currently the president of Foreign Service Fellowship International.