About 100 years ago, Heinz and Gretchen Ufers were having a hard time in their homeland of Germany. Hoping for a better life for themselves and their five-year-old son Peter, they decided to immigrate to the United States. Using almost all the money they had, they bought tickets to cross the ocean by ship. Unfortunately, they had trouble finding much work after they got settled in a home in their new country.
One afternoon Gretchen called little Peter and gave him four pennies. She told him to go to the fish market a block away to buy a fish for dinner.
Peter walked to the store and showed his four pennies to Mr. Levine, the owner of the market, and asked if he could have a fish. But Mr. Levine said, “I’m sorry, my boy, but four pennies isn’t enough to buy
a fish.”
Peter asked, “Can I have half a fish then?”
Mr. Levine decided four pennies were enough for half a fish. So, Mr. Levine took the pennies, wrapped the half fish in some newspaper, and Peter headed
for home.
After he got home, his mother took the fish and unwrapped it. She was about to throw the stinky paper away when an article in it caught her eye:
NOTICE
Looking for an immigrant family from Germany.
We the Schmidt family are aware that some relatives of ours by the name of Heinz and Gretchen Ufers immigrated to the United States earlier this year. We have not heard from them and do not know where they settled. If anyone knows of this family, please tell them to contact us as soon as possible as they have recently inherited a large sum of money.
Gretchen could hardly believe her eyes! Could this be true? The Schmidt family were relatives, but ... this seemed too good to be true. She would have to contact them to know for sure. When they contacted the Schmidts, they discovered that they had indeed inherited a large amount of money. There would be no more half fishes for them! With this inheritance they would eat very well for the rest of their lives.
Did you know, dear children, that the Bible says we have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that [fades] not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:44To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4))? You may not ever get an inheritance of money, but far more important is the fact that if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you have an inheritance right now and it’s waiting for you up in heaven. What kind of inheritance is this? It is happiness and riches far beyond what we can imagine. First and best of all, the Lord Jesus, our Savior, will be there. With Him we will enjoy the Father’s house forever. We can’t even imagine what perfect joy it will be to be there. It will be home! We will never leave that beautiful place where there is perfect love, peace and joy ... a place of beauty, where it is always light, but with no need of the sun ... a home where there will be no more tears. When you get something new, it is exciting, but after a while it’s not that exciting anymore, right? That’s not the way it will be with this inheritance. We will never lose the joy that we will have when we first see the face of the Lord Jesus. That joy will last for all eternity! I trust you know the Savior who loved you and died for you so that you can enjoy the wonderful inheritance He has
for us.
There’s a home for little children,
Above the bright blue sky,
Where Jesus reigns in glory,
A home of peace and joy;
No home on earth is like it,
Or can with it compare;
For everyone is happy,
Nor could be happier there.
Messages of God’s Love 1/15/2023