[This was the last story of Jeff's Message "Do you Want to get Well? Sunday]
Edward Bok lived in Denmark & was commissioned by the King to lead a band of soldiers against pirates who were wreaking havoc on the shipping lanes…he set his HQ along a lonely, desolate island just off the coast…after a few years he had cleared the pirates out of the area…Upon returning the King offered Bok anything he wanted…….All I want is the island….”Why would you want that, it’s isolated, lonely, desolate….”I want to make it beautiful”
The King thought he was crazy but granted his wish & Bok & his family moved to the island & built a beautiful home…they worked persistently planting trees & plants & grass…the vegetation took hold & the island began to flourish…One morning they awoke to the sound of birds singing…there had never been any birds on the island before…
The island became a showplace & is now visited by 1000’s every year…on Bok’s tombstone is the inscription:
That’s not the end of the story…
Bok’s grandson moved to America…became the editor of Ladie’s Home Journal & retired @ age 50…..he bought a piece of desolate land in Florida called Iron Mtn. 324 ft above sea level, highest pt. in the state, He & his wife worked & worked & eventually made it a garden spot in the state…It is now called Lake Wales Fl. A tourist destination…upon his tombstone are the words….
MAKE THE WORLD A BIT MORE BEAUTIFUL & BETTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ON IT
This is what Jesus does…he takes our lonely, desolate, sin-scarred lives & he makes them beautiful & better & then says to us…
Now go do likewise….
Go do EVEN GREATER THINGS…
