Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

Living in a way that makes the world a better place is a desire that beats inside everyone at some time in our lives.  The compassion of Jesus makes it possible for us to be change agents for good … a gospel kind of goodness.

Jesus’ compassion is a profoundly simple source.  He loves us. He wants the best for us.  He wants us to want the best and to do the best for other people.  Jesus makes this best possible by loving us in a way that we can also love each other. Through this love we are bonded together.

As our lives are transformed, the setting in which we live our lives (typically called society / culture) are affected by our personal transformation … which is why Jesus calls us “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.”

Jesus’ compassion contains the DNA to make everyone’s life better, which is why He holds us accountable for what we do with His love …

Consequently, at the end of His earthly life, He told a parable (Matthew 25: 31‐46) by which we can better prepare for the end of our lives.  After our physical death, when we face Jesus, He will make it clear how we: did or did not believe in Him; trust Him for salvation; know that His grace was the only way our lives could hold together and have meaning.

The litmus test is by how we live compassionately.

This kind of compassion shows up in everyday life.  As we see someone in need, and we have the resources to meet that person’s need, we are to meet it.  The compassion need may be met with time by visiting with people in a way that they no longer feel alone in the world.

The compassion need may be met with gifts like clothes, so they are not naked in a lusting world. The compassion need may be met with service like sharing food with another hungry person, so they know we know their lives are as important as our lives.  The compassion need may be met with a touch to person’s faces while giving them water to quench their thirst, so they know the acceptance of not being untouchable …

The compassion need may be words spoken to their aching soul, so they hear the message which enables them to understand why these acts of love are being done.

Pastor Les Hollon

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

- Matthew 25:31‐46 (NIV)

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about God and your place in His world, contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

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