One of my students from Jamaica cannot pronounce my name. As hard as she tries she can’t get her tongue between her teeth at the necessary instant. When we are born we can learn any language and any sound but as the years wane so does our ability to form sounds. In Judges 12 there is a fascinating story where Jephthath required people to say the word Shibboleth in order to cross the Jordan. The men who could not make the sh sound were slaughtered, a gruesome story. I promise not to slay my student because she cannot get my name right.
Obviously passwords are not something new. Yet in this twenty-first century we live in an age of passwords. I have so many different passwords for so many different computer accounts I have to keep a file of them that requires a password to open. I was wondering today, if there were a password, what password God might require to enter heaven’s gates. I don’t think there is one but if there was I think I have come up with the perfect password. “Thank you.”
“Thank you” is what we say when we receive a gift. Since eternal life is a gift what could be more appropriate? Our entire life is a stream of gifts. We began with the gift of birth. We certainly didn’t have anything to do with that. It continues on and on. Each day right now I am so thankful I live in New England. It is mid October and everywhere I look I have to say, “Thank you” for the stunning beauty. Each time I eat I say, “Thank you.” My list could go on and on. Yes, I think “Thank you” is the perfect password for heaven.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 20, 2010.
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org