Those who know me well have come to know I often have
totally random thoughts. These thoughts, being totally random, have no
relationship to whatever I was doing at the time. They often occur while driving. It's like my brain is on shuffle mode
spitting out facts, memories, and anecdotes from years gone by. Recently, a random memory out of the blue and
took me back to freshman year at Fredonia State College. You see, I was not a social butterfly in high
school and I was determined to change my personality going into college. I was
determined to be cooler than I was in high school. In order to be cooler, in my mind, I needed
to meet more pretty girls. (Thank you pop culture for all you taught me at the
time) Well, this has all been the back-story.
I haven't even gotten to the actual random memory yet.
I was sitting in Freshman English class during the first few
weeks of the fall semester in 1991. As an 18-year old freshman I was just glad
I could find my classes. Anyway, I was
sitting there before class started and I was "checking out" all the
girls in the class and rating them on cuteness.
Anyway, there was this one redhead in the class and I thought she was
cute. On the random memory day I was
sitting where I could see out the classroom door, and the aforementioned
redhead walked across the hall and just before she entered the classroom she
kissed this guy with big glasses and a goofy afro. What!?! Who was that guy? Did he know he just put the kibosh on my
plans to meet pretty girls? I didn't know him but I already formed an opinion
of him, and it wasn't good. Fast forward
4 years later and Bill, the guy with big glasses and an afro, and Heather, the
redhead, were two of my best friends in college after I got to know them in the
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship group on campus. We served in campus ministry
together, serving the Lord and each other.
Bill and Heather married in 1994 and started a family, they have 7 kids
now. Hey, you can make disciples or you
can make disciples. Bill, a doctor, served in the
US Army for many years and is now in North Carolina.
I use this story as
an example to show that first impressions are not always correct. The way things seem is not necessarily the way
things will be. As servants, Christians
need to remember where we came from, especially those of us who accepted Jesus
as our Lord and Savior many years ago. We
don't always remember what we were like in our "old days." We were saved by Grace. We are to pass that grace on to others
without judgment.
As
Paul wrote in his Letters to Titus and the Ephesians.
3 At one time we too were foolish,
disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We
lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But
when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He
saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom
he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so
that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope
of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to
stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to
devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and
profitable for everyone. [1]
As
for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which
you used to live when
you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the
kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful naturea
and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who
is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised
us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ
Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so
that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. [2]
As God first
loved us we are to love others, especially those who do not yet know God.
If I speak in the tonguesa
of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a
clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames,b
but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love
is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It
is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with
the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
8 Love never fails. [3]
13 And now these three
remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. [4]
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over
a multitude of sins. [5]
As we serve
in our churches, homes, schools, or where ever God has placed us we need to
remember to serve with an attitude of love.
We should remember where we came from and that is all because of God's
grace we are who we are today. God's
first impression of us wasn't good either, but after we accepted Jesus into our
life all God see's when he looks at us now is his beloved son. We need to look at others in the same light,
that they are precious in the sight of God.
P.S. In a
way, Bill got even with me in Junior or
Senior year when he gave me a giant space wedgie and managed to rip the
elastic band pretty much completely off my underwear. Boy was that uncomfortable. Heather made him
buy me a new pair.
[1] The
Holy Bible : New International Version.
electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Tit 3:3-8
a Or
our flesh
[2] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Eph 2:1-10
a Or languages
b Some early
manuscripts body that I may boast
[3] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Co 13:1-8
[4] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Co 13:13
[5] The
Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids :
Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Pe 4:8
