Glimpses of Jesus (August 2019)

It’s the things in life that we take for granted that blind our eyes to the plight of others. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa the mission team I was on would always vote to eat at an Americanized Lebanese restaurant called, The Crown Bakery. At the entrance of the restaurant, unaffordable for locals, sat rich Africans, tourists, mission teams and various United Nation officials.

Being far from home we would rejoice in the familiar foods set before us. At times the orders continued as they wrapped various pastries to go. However, as we ate we were being watched by those outside the glass windows of the restaurant who were hungry and anticipating our exit in hopes of some food.

We felt we were being stared at, watched like people stare behind the glass watching animals eat at the zoo. I wanted to turn my head, because if I couldn’t see them then in some magical way they did not exist. My heart broke for their predicaments and for those who had nothing as I sat there “the one” who had more than enough.

It’s overwhelming and the voices in my head try to excuse any type of sacrifice on my part. How can I make difference when the needs are so great? Mother Teresa addresses this dilemma and says, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” In other words, begin to make a difference in one life.

People are smiling and running out towards the water to swim in the bay. The food was plentiful, and you could smell the burgers on the grill from fifty yards away. One little boy, no older than ten, looked at me and waved as he and his mother waited in line. He was so excited about being at the Emmaus Center (a home away from homelessness) picnic. Some may call it a day of diversion- but I believe it is better defined by the kind of picnic God’s Kingdom throws for people. The reality of being homeless would soon reappear, but for these precious moments life was void of the chaos many of these men and women daily endure. As the group ate and laughed, they knew that they were valued, they knew they mattered, they knew they were loved by God. Regardless of if their personal story involved drugs, the abuse of alcohol, and or just poor choices that came along for the ride these individuals were valued as human beings, not to be marginalized. People in the crowd that day had fallen on hard times, some without family to help, some had missed a paycheck, some experienced an illness, a layoff, and soon they had no place to call home.

5 Star Kids camp floods the church property with children. Whenever a person we do not know is hanging around the property for the safety of the children, we check them out. As I walked out of my office and onto the parking lot, I met this woman. She looked exhausted and told me of her medical condition and a summary of her life and its disappointments. She felt abandoned by the church, her family and society. We talked, but I mostly listened. After a while, I gave her a bottle of water, prayed with her and she walked away. I may never meet her again, but I am starting to realize who she was.

Seeing Jesus,

Rich

Our works are a byproduct of our salvation.

“But when the Son of Man] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your me 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)