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Building Materials for Heaven
Basilea Schlink

Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.
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In this sermon, the preacher tells a story about a Christian who dies and is guided by an angel through eternity. The angel shows the man a small, wretched hut and tells him that it is his home for all eternity. The man is upset and questions why his house is so poor when he believed in Jesus and went to church regularly. The angel explains that the materials the man sent to heaven during his life were not enough to build a better home. The preacher emphasizes the importance of sending valuable building materials to heaven, which are faith and love, and warns against sending worthless materials like enmity, strife, and selfishness. The sermon encourages listeners to make the most of their time on earth, repent, and turn away from sin in order to be prepared for eternity.
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God lives and works today, and we see his greatest love for us in the fact that he never tires in his efforts to prepare us for eternity. And eternity is waiting for all of us. Today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk will help us to understand how our life today is the deciding factor for our life tomorrow. Years ago, I heard a story which had a deep impact on me. A Christian had died and was being guided by an angel through eternity, through dry and desert regions. And here and there stood a solitary, wretched little hut. Finally, the angel came to a halt before one such hut, and he told the man, Here is your home for all eternity. The man was terribly upset and responded, That can't be my house. I believed in Jesus. I went to church regularly. It just can't be true. And so the man carried on, crying loudly in despair. But the angel only said, During your life on earth, you didn't send us any more building materials. We scraped together everything you sent. But there was only enough material for this poor little hut, far away from the golden city. Building materials for heaven. These words say everything. To a certain degree, the Apostle Paul tells us about these materials in 1 Corinthians 3, verse 12 through 13. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, Each man's work will become manifest. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire. And the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. With every minute of our lives, we are sending building materials to heaven. Are we sending materials for a heavenly palace? Or for a miserable little hut? Or even a prison? What are the precious building materials? They are faith and love. The love that patiently bears the other's burdens. And that forgives and doesn't become bitter. And love for Jesus, which makes sacrifices for him. Which is willing to forsake and give away the dearest of earthly treasures. And the worthless building materials? Enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and the like. The Bible tells us clearly in Galatians 5, That those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. These are the building materials for a wretched hut. Or even a prison in eternity. Therefore, make the most of time. Eternity depends on it. There is still time to repent. There is still time to turn away from sin and evil. There is still time to say, Dear Lord Jesus, I give myself to you. Chasten me any way you want, but make me pure. Make me prepared to persevere in faith, to love you, my Lord. And to patiently love and bear my brothers. Yes, make me ready to suffer and to endure. Do with me as you wish now, no matter what the cost. Only let me be with you one day in your kingdom. O make me thine, my Savior, Lord most holy. That I may only live to give thee glory. O make me thine. www.canaan.org If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.
Building Materials for Heaven
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Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.