When People Are Kind In a corrosive world how can we be like Jesus? We focus on being in a kinder, gentler place of forgiveness and grace.
As it happened, Brandon Wright was flying along on his motorcycle when he noticed a vehicle was coming toward him. They were going to collide. He ended up having to lay his bike down on the street at a tremendous speed to try and minimize the damage he was going to do to his bike and to his body.
A Bad Accident
As it turned out, Brandon ended up crashing into the car, his body sliding underneath the vehicle and his motorcycle in flames. This, of course, lit the car on fire too.
We’ve all seen the movies. In slow motion the car and the motorcycle blow up with an epic burst of flames, maybe the hero of the movie just escapes the explosion as he dives to safety. At least this is what would run through my mind if I were to have witnessed this accident. Back to the real scene.
Brandon and his motorcycle are now trapped under the flaming vehicle. He is certainly going to die. You are a witness to this scene. What would you do?
The witnesses to this accident didn’t skip a beat. Without regard to their own personal safety, people started running to the burning vehicle to try and lift it so that Brandon could escape. Of course, lifting a vehicle is easy if you are the Hulk. None of the bystanders was an Avenger though. So, one by one, and very quickly, a group of bystanders got on the side of the burning car to lift it up enough to drag the now unconscious Brandon to safety.
Here is what a bystander caught on the video tape.
The actions of these bystanders saved Brandon’s life. Biblically speaking, these bystanders carried out the essence of the Law and the Prophets when they performed this selfless, heroic act.
A Universal Rule
In Matthew 7 Jesus says this, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Of the 22 world religions that claim 500,000 members or more, this one statement of Jesus is the only thing all of them claim to have in common.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
It’s such a simple little statement, but it packs a powerful life message, doesn’t it?
I mean, what would happen if every person in every marriage lived by this rule? What would happen if every classroom in every school lived by this rule? What would happen if every politician in congress lived by this rule? Or what would happen if every church member in every church lived by this rule? What would happen if every person in this church lived by this rule?
What would happen if I lived by this rule?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
This Jesus statement appears in the middle of what’s popularly known as the Sermon on the Mount, a defining speech that Jesus delivers on what it will take to revolutionize the world from bigotry, greed, hate, violence and fear to a world filled with love, grace, inclusion, authenticity and peace.
This one simple statement, the Golden Rule, if applied to all our lives, would be the answer to Jesus’ prayer, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”
Mark Witas writes from the Pacific Northwest.
If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy The Narrow Gate
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