Through The Eyes of Love
Author: Steve Popoola
In recent times, I have felt the need to pause in my spiritual walk and reflect on the basics of the Christian faith. It is so easy for us to be so preoccupied with today’s events and tomorrow’s aspirations and so forget certain fundamentals of the Christian faith.
One area we so often forget is where we started from. Imagine an armed robber, a prostitute, a drug addict or any other person under the control of a vice. Ask yourself the question; what makes me different from this person?
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” –Ephesians 2:12-13
What does this mean? It simply means that there was a time when you and I were just like that robber, prostitute or drug addict. Oh yes, you could say, “I never stole and I never used my body for commercial purposes” I thank God for your life but I wish to let you know, that in the eyes of God, you were no better than these people and if you had died in your sin, you would have faced the same judgment reserved for this set of people who remained unrepentant until death.
Remembering where we once were, brings forth feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving, for what God did for us through our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to be a Christian, to be called a child of God and a friend of Christ. Today, many robbers, prostitutes, drug addicts and even murderers have been truly converted and saved. They share a common destiny with us; their past has been wiped away with the splash of blood, never to be used as evidence of guilt against them anymore.
It is because we fail to remember, that we are quick to judge others, condemning them when God is working out their salvation, calling for their heads when God desires that they should be saved.
I was having a discussion with an aunt who had just given her life to Christ. She had recently been duped by fraudsters. It was obvious that she had been doing a lot of thinking concerning the incident and the question she asked me confirmed this.
“If people had been duping others all their lives and they eventually give their lives to Christ, will they be forgiven?” I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Yes, they would be forgiven if they are truly repentant” I replied. I could see that she did not like this. As far as she was concerned, they should rot in hell.
I went ahead to explain the mind of God concerning sinners to her. The Bible says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). The weight of sin is measured equally; no sin is rated higher or lower than another. The effect and repercussion of particular sins on man may be different but the judgment of sin is the same.
The next time you see that man or woman with evidence of sinfulness written all over him or her, do not look at them with the eye of judgment, rather, look at them through the loving eyes of God. After all, we are all sinners saved by grace.
Steve Popoola
© Biblepraise, 2003.
Steve Popoola was born in London but currently reside in Lagos, Nigeria with wife Maris and their two children, Praise and Stephanie. He works in the IT dept of a bank. Formerly an active singer, he still sings occasionally and speaks at invited forums. He is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. To subscribe, send blank email to biblepraise-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. He can be reached through His email address, stpopoola@yahoo.com, or visit his website at http://www.biblepraise.org
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” -2 Corinthians 2:14
Source : Sherry’s Inspirational -http://groups.google.com/group/Sherrys_Inspirational
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