Somehow, it has come down through the ages that Alexander the Great made this dying request, that he should be buried with his hands outside his coffin so that all his subjects could see that despite all the riches he had accumulated in life that he left the world empty-handed. Artists through time have famously depicted this posture. It has been retold repeatedly. Whether or not Alexander requested it, the sentiment reflects divine truth. Paul told Timothy, “For we have brought nothing into this world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:7). Similarly, Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there” (Job 1:21). Solomon similarly states of the wealthy, “As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand” (Ecc. 5:15).
While even world conquerors cannot transport their treasures from time to eternity as they make the transition, everyone will exit the world having left so many things behind us. We leave behind so much more than our financial assets. We leave behind memories of ourselves, encouragement either given or withheld, speech either edifying or destructive, deeds which brought others closer to or further from Christ, family members influenced either to follow Christ or abandon Him, and similarly impactful matters. When we leave earth, our hands are empty. We have bequeathed all that we are and have for those whose lives we touched and influenced. They pick up our habits, worldview, pleasures, interests, and priorities. Some day, they will die and leave empty-handed, too, passing along what in some way we gave them to give.
You may never be a world conqueror, but here is how you conquer the world. It takes faith and spiritual rebirth (1 Jn. 5:4). But do not simply possess it. Be sure to pass it along.
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