“We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.” (2 Corinthian 4:14)
In December of 1938, Nicolas “Nicky” Winton, a successful stock broker in London, was set to take a skiing trip to Switzerland. At the last minute he changed plans and traveled to Prague, Czechoslovakia instead. Hitler had just annexed large portions of that country and Jews were already being herded into ghettos. In the few short weeks of his vacation, Nicky Winton was hoping to save as many children as possible. After he arrived in Prague, he used organizational skills – and a lot of forged documents – to safely evacuate 669 children to Great Britain and Sweden. Unfortunately, war broke out before the last of the trains he arranged was able to leave. The Nazis sent all 250 of its passengers to concentration camps. Only two children of the 250 survived the war – an indication of what would have befallen the 669 had they not been saved.
Nicky Winton’s life-saving work was forgotten and remained in total obscurity for almost five decades. Not even his wife knew about it – until she discovered a box full of “Operation Kindertransport” documents in their attic. After reading about the amazing story, she contacted several Holocaust victim organizations. These helped her contact the Kindertransport children and their 5,700 living descendants. They and Mrs. Winton arranged a large gathering of nearly every person he saved and hundreds of their descendants. Then they contacted the media to cover the event. Last of all, they invited Nicky who was now 104 years old. He knew nothing about the event’s purpose. Only until family after family came forward to lovingly greet him and express gratitude did he realize why he was there. All those people were only alive because of what Nicky had done. He described the meeting as the most emotional moment of his life.
Can you image such an event in heaven? Here in 2 Corinthians 4:14 Paul says that, at the resurrection God will present each of us to Himself. But when we appear before God, we will not do so all alone. Every believer whose life we’ve blessed, every person we’ve prayed for, and every sinner we’ve helped lead to Christ will be presented with us. The Christian song-write, Ray Bolz, describes this event in song.
One by one they came, far as the eye could see, each life somehow touched, by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices made, unnoticed on the earth, but heaven now proclaims.
I know up in heaven you’re not supposed to cry, but I was almost sure there were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand, as you stood before the Lord, He said my child look around you, for great is your reward.
REFLECTION
- Look at your own life. Are you spending your days, hours, and resources to warrant such a meeting in heaven?
- Jesus told us, “Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Is your treasure drawing you heavenward or earthward?
- Let’s lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven and be ready for Christ’s coming.
