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Thursday, October 22, 2009

"Relics Of The King"

 

A snatch of hair clipped in 1958 sold for over $18,000 this past
Sunday.  Before you run out to your local barber shop with a broom and
bushel baskets, let me elaborate.  The hair that someone deemed so
valuable once belonged to Elvis Presley.  His hair was cut when he was
inducted into the U.S. Army.  Now it belongs to a "lucky" bidder.

The hair wasn't the only thing that sold for incredible sums at that
same auction.  A cream-colored cotton shirt with the monogram "EP"
sold for $62,800.  That's far beyond the $2,000 - $4,000 that it had
been expected to bring.  A red ultrasuede shirt which also once
belonged to "the king" of rock and roll proved to be more of a
bargain, fetching only $34,000.

Why do such common items command such exorbitant prices?  Because fans
(short for "fanatics") want something that will give them a sense of
direct contact with the one they admire.  Elvis has been gone since
1977, but there are many who still search for ways to feel connected
to his legend.

Have you wondered how much interest there is in relics that were
connected with THE King?  Just take a tour on the Internet using the
search words "religious relics".  You'll be amazed at how many objects
are claimed to have come directly from various aspects of Jesus' life.
There are many fragments of wood that owners vow are from the cross on
which Jesus died.  Several chalices may be found which are claimed to
have been the one from which Jesus drank at His last supper.  Most
famous of all, perhaps, is the Shroud of Turin, the supposed burial
cloth of the Lord.

One thing may be said of all these "Christian relics": There's little,
if any, way to prove their authenticity.  There are undoubtedly many
who firmly believe they hold something that directly connects them to
Christ, but there are no reliable ways to corroborate such claims.

Does that strike you as odd?  If we have clips of hair from the king
of rock and roll, shouldn't we have something from the life of the
Savior of mankind?

Jesus did give us something by which to remember His life and to
maintain a strong personal connection.  On the night of His betrayal
and arrest, He instituted the Lord's Supper.  After sharing His
followers the bread and the fruit of the vine, He said this: "... do
this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19).  Some may scoff at such a
simple remembrance.  "It's nothing more than a piece of cracker and a
sip of juice," they might retort.  No, it's much, much more than that.

Paul wrote later about the powerful effects of this weekly observance:
"For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks
judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Corinthians
11:29).  Far from a quick ritual, this is the Christian's opportunity
to reconnect with the Savior who gave His life for all.  It is a
powerful event!

Locks of hair will eventually crumble.  Pieces of wood and stone are
subject to decay.  But the strong memories of what happened at Calvary
are just as vivid and durable today as they were 2,000 years ago.
This is the connection to our Lord that we need!

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him
in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like
to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Timothy D. Hall.

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