Last week, I spent three days in Williamsport, PA at a young minister's conference. I met some truly amazing people, especially the guest speakers. Both were incredible men of God in their own unique ways. One hails from Puerto Rico, born in the Bronx, and the other from Armenia. I feel blessed to have attended this event, I came closer to Jesus than I ever had before, and the entire atmosphere has given me an overall new confidence in my faith.
Will all these wonderful things happening around me during the three days, one incident has remained in my head above all others, and it was the only downfall of the three days. My first morning there, as we were preparing to enter the church, a homeless man approached us. He looked extremely ragged, he was staggering and mumbling. He asked for money to get something to eat. One of the guys with me offered to take him up the street and buy him something, and which point I intervened and handed the man ten dollars, and made him promise he was buying food with it. A short time later I found myself convicted. It dawned on me that I had just let a perfect chance to introduce the man to Jesus slip through my hands. Why did I not invite him into church? I prayed for the man, and hoped I would see him again, but I didn't.
I thought of the man's appearance. He was homeless, dirty, off-balance, and staggering as he walked. I think I may have even subconciously judged the man based on this, and somewhere deep in me I may have even thought it unappropriate to invite him into the conference. I felt so bad, here I am always preaching about not judging each other, and yet I did it to this man who obviously needs Jesus! I was searching for any way to find a positive in this, and the idea for this blog blindsided me. We can all learn from this homeless man, and my actions. Let me explain!
Before I came to Jesus, I was spiritually homeless. When Jesus looked at me, he saw a dirty, wayward, staggering person with zero direction. Yet unlike me, Jesus did not judge me and find it unappropriate to invite me in. He didn't make a half-hearted and shallow attempt at comforting me with material things, like I did to the homeless man by giving him ten dollars. It's because Jesus loves us, and wants us to come home to Him. To Him, it doesn't matter where we are in life, what we look like, or what we have done. He will never turn His back on us or judge us. This is why we always fall short of the the greatness of Jesus, because often-times we end up judging or letting chances slip by, even when our intentions are very good. But Jesus is perfect, not only does he make the most of the chances we give Him, he gives us infinite chances to come home.
I wish I could do the situation over with the homeless man, and act as Jesus would. But I can't. Next time I am put that situation, however, I will have learned from this one and act accordingly. So remember, if you are ever feeling like you can't come to Jesus because you aren't clean, know that you can. As many times as you want, and you will never be turned away. I turned away the homeless man although my intentions were good, but when you knock on Jesus' door, he will answer. And if you keep knocking, he will let you in, and finally, you will be home. :)
"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken." - Psalm 34:17-20.
No comments:
Post a Comment