President Harry Truman famously kept a sign on his desk that read “The Buck Stops Here.” When I listen to the news or read the newspaper I feel as if our whole world is wondering where the “buck” stops, who or what is to blame for every natural or man—made disaster or even difficulty. Consensus doesn’t rear its head, and everyone is left unsatisfied.

Almost three thousand years ago the “Teacher” and author of Ecclesiastes ( attributed to Solomon) wrote, “This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”(Ecclesiastes 7:29) It seems like an accurate description of the condition of human civilization on planet earth today, in search of many schemes.

Witnessing the conflicts among and within nations throughout the world makes the first century appearance of the Son of God on earth even more astounding when you consider that the light He introduced, and the change in the spiritual realities for everyone, have never left, but have spread all over the world. From the original apostles to Saint Mother Teresa, and countless others, including John and Charles Wesley, the question has been radically shifted on the world stage from where the “buck” stops, to What is God’s love like?

In all the centuries since Jesus’ walk on earth the Holy Spirit has been at work in the lives of people and nations, for as Mother Teresa insisted, “People are hungry for God.”

I once watched on TV an episode in her life when Mother Teresa was asked by a young man if she would allow him to use her name and develop a logo to use in her behalf in raising money for the Missionaries of Charity. She responded that she would gratefully receive any amount he wanted to give, but that she could not accept professional fund raising in her name. The young man thought that she misunderstood him and failed to grasp what a wonderful offer he was making. In the end, she said with a smile, “God bless you, but, No.”

Pursuing the “buck” and looking for where it stops is the way of the world, but there is another way for Christians who have hidden Christ in their hearts: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them ( those of the world),because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”(John 4:4).

It was , however, to the world that Jesus was sent , and throughout the world that He preached and sacrificed His life. Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Truman was accepting responsibility for his administration as President. Jesus accepted responsibility for the rescue of our souls. All “bucks” stopped with Him.

Love in Him,

Prue