Morris Siegel

A Refused Inheritance

Doug Parsons once told about Morris Siegel, a homeless man that lived on the
streets of Los Angeles. Morris slept outside and carried everything he
owned in an old shopping cart. He died on December 14, 1989, from natural
causes; his body was found in an alley. But Morris was not a typical
homeless person. He died with $207,421.00 in the bank!

Then WHY was he living on the streets of L.A.?

Ten years earlier, Morris Siegel's father had died and left him a small
fortune. Morris never showed up to claim the money. Finally, the Division
of Unclaimed Property traced him down. They forced him to accept it, even
though he did not show up for the ceremony to receive the money. He did
take enough money to buy an old car in which he slept during bad weather.
Relatives rented an apartment for Morris, but he never went there. He died
with $3.00 in his pocket and a small fortune in the bank. His father had
left him a substantial inheritance, but Morris refused it.... *

It is the desire of God, the Heavenly Father, to give each of US an eternal
inheritance. Even though we were lost in sin, because of His great love for
us, God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, so that we might
become his children and heirs together with Christ. "Now if we are
children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his
glory" (Romans 8:17).

God wants each of us to become His children in order to give us that eternal
inheritance which includes an eternal home with Him in heaven.

We are "born" into His family when we place our faith and trust in Jesus
(Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus
before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) - "born of the
water and the Spirit" (John 3:3,5) - having our sins washed away by the
blood of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Then, if we will continue to walk in the
light of His Word, He will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
(1 John 1:7).

If only we will accept His offer.

Morris Siegel died in poverty on the streets of L.A. because he refused to
accept his father's inheritance! Steve Williams has observed that sadly "to
this day, lost people shuffle around this world, walking up and down blind
alleys of sin, living lives of empty existence, refusing the wealth that God
would give them. They reject Christ and an eternal inheritance."

Rejecting Christ and His offer of salvation and life condemns one to eternal
destruction. DON'T make that tragic mistake!

Accept God's offer of sonship and salvation on His terms.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent