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The Update. Awake Series, Part 21
For our 25th anniversary celebration I planned a trip for my wife to
a place she has always dreamed of visiting: New Zealand!
I planned this trip for months in advance, meticulously taking care
of even the tiniest details so that everything would be ideal. I ran
into a hitch, however, at one of the bed and breakfast
establishments. The place had the best location in the entire city,
right on a hill with a view over the town and the Pacific Ocean. All
that, and it was also affordable! The only problem was this: The
Pacific View room, the room with the best view, had already been
reserved, and I had no choice but to choose a different room.
I was disappointed, but I left the whole matter in God's hands.
After all, He knows what is best for us! A few months later, when we
actually entered this fine establishment, the owner had some great
news for us. "When the people who reserved the Pacific View room
learned the couple who were celebrating their 25th anniversary were
coming here, they insisted to give you their room. You will have the
best view in the house!"
We couldn't believe our ears. God had come through again. I was even
more astonished that these people who didn't hesitate to offer up
their room for complete strangers, were Muslims. How humbling! What
manner of love was this, anyway?
One day an expert of the law came to Jesus and asked Him: "And who
is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29 NIV)
Imagine being that expert of the law in those days. The only thing
you know are your fellow believers and the only ones you may
consider worthy of being your neighbours are the ones you worship
with. Sad attitude, I know!
Jesus revolutionizes this concept with a simple parable. A man
travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by some thugs who
beat him to a pulp and left him to die.
Laying there on the road, a priest came by. You would think that a
man of the cloth would stop to help, but he did the opposite! Maybe
he was running late for a meeting, but since when is our priority
list more important that loving others the way Jesus did?
The next one to pass by was a pastor (A Levite in Jesus' story). He,
too, would be expected to come to the assistance of this poor man.
Instead he pretended the victim didn't exist. It's true that many
pastors have very little time. But does this justify such actions?
The third one was a terrorist (A Samaritan in the real story, but
Samaritans were considered terrorists in those days!). There's no
way this guy would stop! If he did, it would probably be to blow the
poor victim into the next county!
But he did the opposite. He stopped, he attended the victim's
wounds, and then he loaded the bleeding, nearly-dead man into his
brand-new Porche and drove him to a nearby Hilton. Here he covered
all expenses, including care, insisting that he wanted this guy
cared for until he was completely well.
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who
fell into the hands of robbers?" Asked Jesus. (Luke 10:36 NIV)
Imagine being that poor soul, and find yourself waking up in a
deluxe environment, with people taking care of you, all thanks to a
terrorist! Then you are made aware that those elite believers in
your congregation didn't even lift a finger to help you. How would
you feel? Who showed you mercy? Wouldn't this confuse you?
I know this whole parable is a bit hard to swallow. But aren't we,
as Christians, supposed to love like Jesus did? Why didn't the
priest or the pastor stop to help this pour guy?
Good question! However if we are truly honest, we also have had our
fair share of disappointments with people we considered "followers
of the Way". Labeling ourselves as Christians doesn't make us one!
What a lesson we receive from those who are not supposed to love
like this! Fortunately, God's love is not reserved for an elite
group. All of us are His children, and accordingly, He reaches out
to each one of us. Jesus urges us to love in the same way!
When we don't show God's love in our lives, however, we are
broadcasting that we are fakes: "They claim to know God, but by
their actions they deny him." (Titus 1:16 NIV)
Love cannot exist if we have no room for the One who is called the
Lover of our soul!
"Great news! I have an update for you. You will have the best room
in the house!" What a day that will be, when we are finally home
with our Heavenly Father!
Rob Chaffart |
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