By this will men know that you are my disciples.
Yesterday during the morning sermon, we watched a short video prepared not by an actor, but by a man who came to know Christ. If you saw this man, you would initially probably not want to meet him in a dark alley. As his story unfolds, you cannot help but wish to be made over, made new into the kind of person his neighbor was.
The man grew up in an abusive household, bitter, angry, profane, and became that same sort of person himself. He did have his own family, and moved into a neighborhood where there were both good and bad influences. His next door neighbor often tried to be friendly and helpful, but his "goodie-two shoes" ways were unappreciated and rejected. Instead, an equally profane acquaintance was found to sit on the front porch drinking and cursing the "nice" neighbor.
When an accident left the man with a broken arm the nice neighbor offered to help in any way, but was warned out of the yard and rejected.
When the man looked out his window, he was astonished to see the nice neighbor in his yard starting his lawn mower. When accosted, he simply stated that he intended to mow the man's lawn unless he was forcefully sent away. Reluctantly, he was allowed to do the mowing and continued to do so for the next 3 weeks. He then asked if the man would watch his home for the weekend while he was away. Thankful that he could unburden his debt of gratitude, the man agreed to do so; but was astonished to awaken Saturday to find another man mowing his lawn. It turned out to be the son of the "nice neighbor", saying his dad had asked him to fill in while he was gone.
The following week, the man received a letter from his brother along with a book by Max Lucado that had changed his brother's life. Upon reading it, he realized why his neighbor had continued to act in compassion and friendship, even though profanely rejected. The man accepted Christ and now tells his story with tears in his eyes. My adult daughter sobbed next to me as we watched the end of the film. I felt moved myself.
The wrong sad thing that we often do is accept rejection and ridicule of our faith and efforts to show His love. That is, to accept the rejection and move on to greener pastures. The right sad thing is to accept the rejection or ridicule gracefully, and then show that love at the next opportune time, actively looking for those times. We are not reconciled to God when we befriend Him. We are reconciled while His enemies by the death of Christ. "Much more, being reconciled shall we be saved by His life." Is it not His life living in us? Are we really dead to the world and alive to Christ? What a challenge this story and the life that inspired it present.