Sarah Darling saw him and had compassion on him. Billy Ray Harris is homeless and often finds refuge under a bridge in Kansas City, Missouri, which is also Sarah’s hometown. Sarah took out her change purse and emptied out the contents into Harris’ cup. However, Sarah later realized that she had donated much more than she intended.
It was not until the next day that she discovered her engagement ring was missing. She remembered that she had removed the ring from her hand because the ring was irritating her skin, and she placed it into her change purse. With a sinking feeling, she feared that the ring was part of the contents that she had emptied into Harris’ cup. She returned to where she had seen Harris, but he was not there. She went back the following day and found him. She approached him and said, “I don’t know if you remember me, but I think I gave you something that is very precious to me.”
Harris responded: “Was it a ring? Yeah, I have it; I kept it for you.” He handed the ring to her. Sarah was floored and elated! “I actually feel like I am especially lucky to have this ring now. I loved it before. I loved it so much, but I love it so much more now,” she later told a television host.
To show her appreciation, Sarah set up an online fundraiser for Harris. The donations and praise have poured in from all over the world. In the first week of the 90-day campaign, over 3,400 donations were made totaling nearly $95,000. Adam and Eve lost much more than an engagement ring when they disobeyed God’s instruction (Genesis 2:16-17). They lost their innocence and their home in the beautiful paradise of the Garden of Eden, including access to the tree of life that would have enabled them to live forever (Genesis 3:22-23).
The sin of Adam and Eve has been repeated by their offspring – including you and me. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And as a result, we also earn the “wages of sin,” which is death (Romans 6:23). Yet, God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). Through Jesus, we can have forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life. What was lost in the paradise of Eden may be regained – through Christ – in “the paradise of God.” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). God will forgive and give access to the tree of life (eternal life) to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Those who “overcome” by remaining faithful to Him will be rewarded with eternal life in the paradise of God.
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). Paradise lost can be regained through Christ – when we submit our lives to the Savior. Won’t you?
