Judgement

James 2:12-18
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
(NIV)

A family was on vacation and was staying at a nice hotel. As they walked out to the parking garage, they thought that they heard a baby crying. They stopped and listened, but there was complete silence. With excitement of the day’s activities ahead, they quickly walked to their car. They were parked on the fifth level and actually had a nice view as they looked out their car window. As they proceeded to leave the parking garage, they approached level four. They saw in a corner a man and a woman holding a newborn baby. They were sitting on the concrete floor of the parking garage. There were some blankets lying around, and some suitcases leaning on an old rusted car covered with dirt, as though they had just driven a long distance. The father slowed down to get a better look at the situation. The mother gasped” Oh my goodness, those poor people’’, and locked the car doors. The kids in the car popped up and said, “Dad, let’s take them to breakfast with us!” Dad replied, “You just don’t know about those kind of people. They might rob us or even kill us and steal our car. Besides, we are on a family vacation and not a mission trip.” They passed by the couple and turned the corner when the father saw three gentlemen in suites approaching the couple. He stopped the car and said, ”See, here is the hotel management. They are going to tell them to leave, because this is a private parking garage for hotel guest only.” As he watched, one man started writing out a check and handed it to the couple. The next man pulled out a shining gold box and opened it, showing only the couple its contents. Then, the third man handed them several strings of pearls and diamond necklaces. The observing father watched in total dismay. He saw them talking, and one gentleman reached down and picked up the baby. The father quickly rolled down his window to hear what they were saying, while trying to remain inconspicuous. He heard the gentleman holding the newborn baby ask, “What is his name?” The mother looked at him with a gleaming smile and replied, “An angel named Gabriel appeared to me and told me to name him Jesus. So that is what we named him, Jesus.”

Almost every situation is not as it seems. Jesus was born in a homeless situation and died as a homeless person. We all have our preconceived ideas and our prejudices. Just as I can’t say, ”All politicians are corrupt” I can’t say that all homeless people are hopeless drunks either. Have you ever wondered why God chose his son to be born in an animal stall (parking garage, today’s equivalent)? It is because God is a god of humility and compassion. He opposes the prideful and those who think highly of themselves that believe they are too good for certain people. God is not interested in our physical appearances, but is interested in our heart. He looks at you and me as souls and hearts, not CEO or homeless man. He blinds the proud and opens the eyes of the humble. God has given us mercy and he expects us to do the same. To show mercy to others is to look at them through the eyes of Jesus and love them the same way you want Jesus to love you. No one is hopeless. No one is a lost cause. Mercy triumphs over judgment! Do you want to escape God’s judgment? Don’t judge people by their outward appearance. Show mercy to everyone you come in contact with and look at them as a soul and a heart in need of a savior.