A box has six rigid sides, and our minds have pre-conceived perceptions of the fearfully, wonderfully made human beings God created. As His children, many times We try to fit Him into our self-imagined, six-sided boxes.
During a moment of tender-hearted inspiration, while taking a leisurely walk along the Pier, I had asked God to help me see the people around me through His eyes. As I exited the uphill slope that led away from the Pier, an elderly gentleman dressed in a colourful blouse and skirt, with a face made up and hair neatly brushed back said hello to me.
It was the depth of His voice as he spoke that drew my attention to Him.
Sitting on a bench at the furthest end of the Pier no more than twenty minutes later, a well-known local guy, dressed in a white mini skirt, white t-shirt and white sunglasses walked by. We had a brief conversation, as he shared that today was his first day off in twelve days.
I had sensed it as the elderly man in the blouse and skirt said hello. Seeing the guy in the mini skirt confirmed it! God was messing with my perceptions of people. Would I judge these men and view them through the stereotypical lens that says; ‘gay guys’, or would I see two lost souls needing the love and healing of a saviour?
What were your initial thoughts and perceptions about the images of the two men depicted above?
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things – Romans 2:1(NLT).
God wants ‘everyone’ to repent! That’s the prostitute, transvestite, thief, murderer and the two gay guys I bumped into as I walked along the Pier.
What do you think God’s heart and thoughts are towards them?
2nd Peter 3:9 says,
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.
God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He doesn’t condone our sin but wants to transform our sinful nature and conform us to become like the perfect man – Jesus.
The woman caught in the act of adultery.
The Samaritan woman by the well.
The Gadarene demoniac.
Zacchaeus the tax collector.
You, me… He wants to save us all.