The Lesson at the Falls

Yesterday, my friend Scott and I took our oldest kids out hiking to see the Daniel Ridge Falls. My oldest son, Ashe is three and Maren, Scott's oldest daughter is 2 1/2, so needless to say, hiking went slowly, very slowly.

When we finally arrived at the falls, I was surprised to find that we were the only ones there. The weather was an ideal 70 degrees, it was a relatively easy approach, and it was the beginning of spring break for many. I had thought that the falls would be swarmed by the people who filled up all the cars in the parking lot.

After ten or fifteen minutes, some folks hiked in. It was a father and his 10 or so year-old son. They were spring breaking from Charleston, SC (because all beach people know that the mountains are better) and taking in a little hiking. Scott, who is normally reserved and a definite introvert turned into the welcome committee. Although these two were strangers, Scott worked to welcome them and assure them some friendliness.

Welcoming the stranger is at the heart of the Gospel. God, while we were estranged and enemies, broke into our world and invited us into His work in the creation. Throughout the Scriptures, God is constantly breaking into the world and welcoming men to participate in building His Kingdom. Jesus, the Christ, came to destroy for all time that which separates man from their God and from each other. He did this by taking upon Himself the guilt, brokenness, and downright evil in mankind and though he was innocent, perfect, and righteous, He died. It seemed as though He was overcome by sin, but after three days, he overcame sin and death and raised again, and now welcomes people to live in the Kingdom that He is building.

As followers of the God-king, we are to live out and share the values of His kingdom in the name of the King. The basis of acceptance rests solely on this work of the Christ. We can welcome people by forgiving them for wronging mankind in general and wronging us specifically. We can forgive because the penalty for sin has been paid. My prayer is for the Church to look to the person and work of Jesus and take it seriously, to stop demanding that people look like us, talk like us, vote like us, sing like us, smell like us, before we welcome them as friends.

Thanks Scott for your example of the Gospel!