Editorial 2010
Compassion: the Job Description of a Christian
What happens to employees who fail to perform their job description? They generally get fired. As a mid-level manager myself for 31+ years, the most annoying and difficult times were when employees did not do their jobs. And then they'd whine about it. I hated confrontation, and especially hated having to tell an employee that they were screwing up. They always tried to put it back on me, and would whine and cry about it being everybody's fault. Except their own, of course. And I loved them all, in spite of their messed up work ethics. So having to be formal and stiff with them just about killed me. Our Lord HATES to have to fire us, and He goes way past the extra mile to prevent it. But if we are not listening...we are in danger of losing our job.
Let's go with what Jesus prayed to the Father before His crucifixion: they will know that you are My disciples by your love. And what about the first two chapters of 1 John? If we hate our brothers, we don't even know God in the first place. It's interesting how far afield we can get in our penchant to be "right" in our religion.And we are dead wrong! Love is our first commandment and last one -- and we've failed in it on every side. I think some of us are going to get fired at judgment day.
Example: I have received numerous emails expounding all the reasons why the earthquake in Haiti was a judgment because they are servants of satan. Sometimes these so called preachers spent two or three pages of type-written text to explain it. I get a little furious at that crap (yes, crap). There is NO nation on earth that is righteous. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
But as individuals, there are literally thousands of people who love the one True, Living God in every nation, including Haiti. There are missionaries and local pastors who work very hard to save the souls of precious people who simply know nothing about God. They risk their lives in a difficult environment so that the people of every nation will be free from false religion. So what of them? Does God just want to wipe out everyone? The "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" method?
God Himself does not wish anyone to perish, according to the Bible. He is love, and there is no darkness in Him.If He allows something, He does so with purpose and love on His heart- the people of Haiti are as beloved as the people of America. He longs for their hearts to be one with His. And as they cry out to Him, He will reach down and answer. Color, background, previous junk all washes away in the Blood of Christ. He is the God of forgiveness and mercy, the God of Grace, hope, joy, and peace. If you are in trouble, run to Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Creator of the universe. Don't listen to condemnation, listen to the soft wooing of the Savior of mankind.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17