What Would You Save?
Two hundred years ago today (August 24, 1814) – during what is known as the War of 1812 – British troops led by Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to almost every government building in the city – including the U.S. Capitol and the White House!
James Madison was President at the time, and had left two days before to meet with his generals in Maryland, leaving his wife, Dolley, in charge of the house. Before leaving he told her to be prepared to abandon the White House at any moment, knowing that an attack was imminent. The next day (August 23), as Mrs. Madison and a few of her servants were scanning the horizon with spyglasses, British troops were spotted gathering in the distance. The first lady made the now legendary decision to abandon the family’s personal belongings and save Gilbert Stuart’s full-length portrait of former president George Washington. She had a couple of servants cut the painting from its frame, rolled up, and then had it scurried out of town. (Unbeknownst to Mrs. Madison, the painting was actually a copy of Stuart’s original.) She then hastened out of town to find her husband. The next day British troops enjoyed some White House food, using the President’s silverware and china, before burning the building.
What would you have taken? That’s a question I’m sure has been asked many times over the last wo centuries. It’s somewhat exciting to think about, isn’t it? What item(s) would be the most important to you?
WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE TODAY?
You probably figured I was going here. Suppose you received, say, a one hour notice on some given day that your house would be seized by an enemy and burned. What would you make sure was hastened away to safety?
Your loved ones? Of course.
Old pictures? An aged family Bible? Probably.
Prized heirlooms? Tax documents? The hard drive to your computer? If you had time.
THE ENEMY’S COMING! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE?
If you’re wise you’ll think about this. The enemy we really need to be concerned about is Satan and his demonic army (Ephesians 6:10-13). He’s real! No, he’s not coming to burn your wood, mortar, and brick house down. He wants to torch your home! And he would like nothing better than to see you and your loved ones burn – in hell!
Sadly, Satan is burning a great many homes down at this present moment. Sadder yet is the fact that mothers and fathers are inviting him in to do it.
Why are parents allowing this? The short answer is, selfishness. That’s right, selfishness!
In too many homes today this is the scene:
Oh yes, I feel sure that if a physical fire threatened their house, every parent would make sure their children would be first to be hustled off to safety. The danger of the moment, it would force the decision. But what about over an 18-20 span? Too many parents are willfully ignoring the hard and difficult day-to-day decisions which determine the salvation of their home. Instead of saving what is truly important, their focus is on saving material possessions, property, belongings, goods, and assets!
Parents, let me remind you that there is no more valuable possession in your house than that of your children (Psalm 127:3). Your car, pickup, or SUV – it doesn’t compare. Neither do your appliances, televisions, furniture, clothes, computers, tablets, phones, or anything else.
What would you save? What are you saving? Those are important questions of eternal consequence.
Remember, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
--Mike Noble
James Madison was President at the time, and had left two days before to meet with his generals in Maryland, leaving his wife, Dolley, in charge of the house. Before leaving he told her to be prepared to abandon the White House at any moment, knowing that an attack was imminent. The next day (August 23), as Mrs. Madison and a few of her servants were scanning the horizon with spyglasses, British troops were spotted gathering in the distance. The first lady made the now legendary decision to abandon the family’s personal belongings and save Gilbert Stuart’s full-length portrait of former president George Washington. She had a couple of servants cut the painting from its frame, rolled up, and then had it scurried out of town. (Unbeknownst to Mrs. Madison, the painting was actually a copy of Stuart’s original.) She then hastened out of town to find her husband. The next day British troops enjoyed some White House food, using the President’s silverware and china, before burning the building.
What would you have taken? That’s a question I’m sure has been asked many times over the last wo centuries. It’s somewhat exciting to think about, isn’t it? What item(s) would be the most important to you?
WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE TODAY?
You probably figured I was going here. Suppose you received, say, a one hour notice on some given day that your house would be seized by an enemy and burned. What would you make sure was hastened away to safety?
Your loved ones? Of course.
Old pictures? An aged family Bible? Probably.
Prized heirlooms? Tax documents? The hard drive to your computer? If you had time.
THE ENEMY’S COMING! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE?
If you’re wise you’ll think about this. The enemy we really need to be concerned about is Satan and his demonic army (Ephesians 6:10-13). He’s real! No, he’s not coming to burn your wood, mortar, and brick house down. He wants to torch your home! And he would like nothing better than to see you and your loved ones burn – in hell!
Sadly, Satan is burning a great many homes down at this present moment. Sadder yet is the fact that mothers and fathers are inviting him in to do it.
Why are parents allowing this? The short answer is, selfishness. That’s right, selfishness!
In too many homes today this is the scene:
- Parents have no idea what their child is doing after school.
- If it weren’t for the local school feeding their children, they’d go hungry.
- Children are allowed to watch filthy TV ’reality’ shows and comedies from mid-afternoon until bedtime.
- Many are allowed to surf the internet unsupervised. Some are given smart phones to use unsupervised.
- Meanwhile, the parents are doing their own thing. If they aren’t off somewhere having a good time, they’re watching their own television programs or burying their eyes in their own smart phone, completely ignoring their kids. It’s a tragedy.
Oh yes, I feel sure that if a physical fire threatened their house, every parent would make sure their children would be first to be hustled off to safety. The danger of the moment, it would force the decision. But what about over an 18-20 span? Too many parents are willfully ignoring the hard and difficult day-to-day decisions which determine the salvation of their home. Instead of saving what is truly important, their focus is on saving material possessions, property, belongings, goods, and assets!
Parents, let me remind you that there is no more valuable possession in your house than that of your children (Psalm 127:3). Your car, pickup, or SUV – it doesn’t compare. Neither do your appliances, televisions, furniture, clothes, computers, tablets, phones, or anything else.
What would you save? What are you saving? Those are important questions of eternal consequence.
Remember, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
--Mike Noble