John died in 1791, converted at 35. Turn that round, it makes 53. Add them together, it makes 88. Because he was saved at 35, preached for 53 years, and you know what he left when he died?
He left a handful of books, a faded Geneva gown that he preached in all over England, six silver spoons somebody gave him, six pound notes - "Give one to each of the poor men that carry me to my grave." And that's all he left: six pound notes, six silver spoons, and a handful of books, a Geneva gown.
And ..., there was something else. What was it, the other thing? Oh, I know something else he left - the Methodist church.
He could have died as rich as ...famous TV preacher someday. Sure, he made money, and he built orphanages. Sure, he made money, he printed Bibles. Sure, he made money, he compiled with Charles the Methodist hymn book, and they built orphanages. And he died worth about 30 dollars.
He printed Bibles. He printed hymn books. He financed missionaries to go across the earth. That's the way to use your money.
You think of the reward. Why in God's name do you think it says, "Don't lay up treasure on earth, lay up treasure in heaven."
Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994)[
