Death to Self

When Kenneth Smith, a 72-year-old retiree in Riverside, California, was killed in a tragic accident, the world, at first, didn’t pay much attention. But when it surfaced that Smith in his childhood was known as Darwood Kaye, and had portrayed “Waldo” in the Little Rascals series of short films, news agencies took notice.

Once Smith’s acting career ended, the young man became more interested in spiritual matters and attended a religious college; he was later ordained a minister, serving at six different churches in California. In 1957, the Smith family began a fourteen-year stay in Thailand, doing missionary work before returning to America where he finished his career in several congregations.

But unlike many other former “child stars,” Smith never dwelled on the past. He didn’t go to fan club meetings or nostalgia conventions. He wasn’t ashamed of his past; rather, it was just that—his past. To borrow from the apostle Paul, Darwood had been crucified with Christ. Paul lived the life of Jesus, who said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

For believers, finding a new life in Christ doesn’t mean you have to ignore your past and any accomplishments of your earlier years. After briefly describing his own life, the apostle Paul quickly added, “I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Kenneth Smith built something more lasting than a “highlight reel” of acting appearances and so may you, “for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Apply It:

Think of someone you know (or perhaps a Bible character) who was transformed by a powerful encounter with Jesus. Ask God to help you put Jesus and His will ahead of your desires and see where He leads!

Dig Deeper:

Romans 6:6–11; John 12:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Key Bible Texts

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)