A Baby in the Belfry

Harry Emerson Fosdick, pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, made a statement once about babies: "The solutions to the problems of the world are

found in the baby wards of the hospitals." That is, God has an answer for the world hanging on the gossamer thread of a baby. Every believer should consider the possibility of a baby they know finding the cure for AIDS and cancer. A baby could and will make a discovery that will change the face of the world, altering the destiny of humanity.

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was asked in an interview, "What is the next big invention? How will people make money?" His response was, "It is in the heart of a 12- or 13-year-old girl no one knows right now, who will come up with an idea that will change the way the world looks."

Today's problem is not the lack of ability to discover but negativity toward babies. God's answer lies in the hearts of babies. Every believer should put as much

God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit into their babies as possible.

On Feb. 12, 1809, in southeast Hardin County, Ky., no one knew that a baby born by the name of Abraham Lincoln would grow to become president and lead this nation through its greatest internal crisis, the Civil War. On that same day, no one knew that a baby born in 1769 by the name of Arthur Wellesley, the First Duke of Wellington, would win Waterloo and defeat Napoleon. No one knows what lurks in the hearts of babies.

God's words are clear: "All that I have is My Word and a baby who will be the hope for the future." Every believer must know that all we have are our babies.

In fact, they are the ones who will keep the church going. "The virgin ... will call him Immanuel." No further description was given. The baby will one day be

born and named, but His identity was not yet revealed.

In 1814, during the Napoleonic War, troops invaded Italy. Those military mights came upon the small village of La Roncole, pillaging, sowing rape and

bloodshed in their path.

In the midst of all of that mayhem, there was a young girl named Luigia Verdi. She and other women of the village took refuge in the church of San Michele. As the slaughters began and screams were heard, Luigia climbed into the belfry with her baby in her arms. There, she hung onto the rope of the belfry in one hand with her baby in the other.

She simply was trying to save her baby. She had no idea that in her arms would be the greatest Italian opera composer to ever live. With 32 operas to his credit, her son Giuseppe Verdi would one day give us Aida, Rigolletto, and La Traviata.

She had no idea. She just hung on in the belfry with this baby. In another day and at another time, another poor woman had a baby. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel," which means God with us. On that day, when Mary gave birth, she pondered things in her heart. She had no idea that in her womb and in her arms, God had given her salvation. That is, redemption was wrapped in swaddling clothing; mercy was in the manger, and grace was growing.

Mary did not know she was holding the Founder of the Christian Church and the Author of the Scripture. She had no idea that 2,000 years later, we would celebrate His life, death and resurrection by re-enacting His last supper.

In the face of human fears, disasters and inadequate defenses, God has given a baby. You should get on board with this Baby. He is the Cosmic Christ and the

Living Lord. He is Immanuel: God with us. He is Jesus Christ.