LightGrams
August 28, 2025
Volume 29, Number 27
A 60-year-old tradition was kept alive last week at the Minnesota State Fair. Malorie Thorson sat inside a glassed-in studio as Gerry Kulzer sculpted her likeness from the shoulders up. She wore a coat as the temperature was only 40 degrees inside. Outside it was double that temperature, but the refrigeration was necessary to keep the butter sculpture from melting.
As the Associated Press article noted, this is not the only state to have butter sculptures at their state fairs. Iowa and New York were also listed, with the former having a life-sized dairy cow butter sculpture, just as it has done for over 100 years. Obviously, these dairy associations like to promote their products in imaginative ways.
I can’t help but wonder, though, how the sculptors feel about working with such a medium as butter. How many of their works will be kept refrigerated? If they’re not kept cold, they’re bound to melt, and then their work vanishes. Like ice sculptures, their works can’t possibly endure.
Couldn’t we ask the same question about sculptures made of flesh and blood – namely, ourselves? Ecclesiastes 12:6,7 frames the question in this way: “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
The chapter began with this admonition: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). When we’re young, life is filled with possibilities. We learn, we grow, we accomplish much. But as we age, we wonder, “What happens to all these ‘things’ that I’ve accumulated? Will all my accomplishments melt like butter?”
Those who follow Christ are given assurances about their legacies. Hebrews 6:10 is one such passage: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” The acts of kindness and love they did for others would be remembered, Paul said. God won’t forget those good deeds.
Revelation 14:13 is another comforting verse: “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” What we do on earth in serving the Lord will not melt away but will accompany us into eternity.
Though we don’t like to admit it, our lives in the flesh are fleeting; our bodies will return to the dust after our souls depart from them. But 1 Corinthians 15:53 overpowers our sadness regarding mortality with this wonderful fact: “… and this mortal must put on immortality.” The best parts about God’s people will survive death and live on into eternity.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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