Consider this scenario. You are driving along the freeway, and (illegally!) sending a text message with your mobile phone at the same time. Then… as these things happen, you hit the guy in front of you. Not a big smash, but a smash.
It is rush hour, and both of you pull off to the side. There’s not much tension, since you both realize that these things happen. ID numbers, phone numbers, etc. are exchanged, and an arrangement about the accident is made. You were the party at fault, and you are going to pay the other party’s insurance excess.
Your car is not insured, but luckily the damage to your car is minimal, and you are happy to keep on driving it like that. What a bad morning! You were stupid, guilty, and even reckless not to have your car insured. Thankfully, you immediately arrange insurance for it. And… life goes on.
About two months later you get a phone call. It is Bob – the guy who you drove into. He wants you to pay for the damages to his car. Not just the $300 insurance excess, but the whole $1,500 panel beaters bill!
You somewhat kindly remind him that that was not what you agreed to do. He says he doesn’t want to claim from insurance, and it’s too late in any case. There’s an argument, and he threatens to sue you.
You are very disappointed. Obviously! More so, since you just don’t have the money to foot this extra bill. Yes… it’s all your fault, and you should have acted avoided the accident to start with – and you should have had insurance! Still… you are not happy about how things have turned out. Your back’s against the wall.
As you have learned over time, the only place to be properly comforted, is flat on your face before God, with the tears streaming down your face.
You know that voice inside of you, the voice that constantly reminds you of Jesus’ words, the right thing to do, and even sometimes makes you aware that you’re not acting like you should be acting… the voice I believe is the Holy Spirit, even though some refer to it as your conscience. Well, that voice suddenly reminds you of Luke 6:27 to 35, where Jesus said you should love your enemies. Where he said “If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.”
You know you shouldn’t feel comforted by those words, but strangely you do. You decide, that if Jesus wants you to do that, you will pay this Bob guy $3,000 – you’ll need a loan, but so what! You get satisfaction from doing the will of Jesus. And this is an excellent time to practice some revolutionary subordination.
You find out what Bob’s banking details are. You write him an email, explaining that you are a follower of Jesus, and therefore you want to give him double what you owe him. You pay him $3,000! And you know what? You are free… Much more free than you would have been if you fought with him, held a grudge against him, or went to court, and most-probably lost the case.
Plus… as an added bonus, you had a chance to take Jesus words from the Bible seriously. To believe them, and obey them. This is what loving Jesus is all about. You still sit with that loan though, and this time, loving Jesus and obeying Jesus actually cost you something.
Can you see yourself in this story? Can you see yourself really obeying Jesus? What if Jesus actually meant what He said?
