A Vignette...

The setting: Inside a brilliant white room. The room is bare except for a white throne upon three white steps which face the center of the room. On the top step is a large white podium. Upon the podium are two massive books, also brilliant white. Both books are open to what appears to be the same page number. Sitting upon the throne is an even whiter and brighter image. Within the image can be seen the form of a man dressed radiantly in white. Because of his radiance, all features of the man are hard to discern, except the eyes. The eyes are firm but peaceful.

The curtain rises.

A man enters the room from opposite the throne. He's dressed in a flannel shirt, blue jeans, and work boots. He walks confidently to the center of the room where he stops, still standing with head up and arms crossed, facing the throne.

‍

With a defiant tone, the man asks, “Who are you?”

‍

A deep but kind voice emanating from the throne, but also from every direction at once, answers, “You are in the great white throne room of judgment, before the Lord your God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, the First and the Last. You are judged now for the thoughts, words, and deeds you chose to commit against Me, though I created you in my image and gave you free will to walk upon the Earth I provided for you. Why have you chosen to not know me?”

‍

Still in a defiant tone: “Well, it's not like I chose, I simply was never introduced. How could I know you if I was never introduced to you?”

‍

Again, the voice: “My creation and providence for you is ample proof that there is an omnipotent Creator. Everything you have seen, felt, or heard, I created and have given to you. The wonders of the stars, and animals, and the order given to all living things is indisputable truth for you to know that I am the Lord your God” (Ps. 19:1, Rom. 1:20).

‍

“Well, that may be, but what about my neighbor? It's my neighbor's fault I didn't know you. My neighbor always had more than I. His life was easy and mine was hard, yet he never did anything for me. It's my neighbor's fault I didn't know you.”

‍

The voice: “Is this the neighbor you repeatedly persecuted with vile thoughts, words, and deeds?”

‍

“Yes, that's him. He deserved it. If he truly knew You, he would have loved me. Is it any wonder I persecuted him? It's my neighbor's fault!”

‍

The voice: “Was it that your neighbor treated you in the way you describe, or was it the lies you chose to believe about your neighbor in order to justify your hatred? Did I not command you to live a life of love?”

‍

After a period of silence, the form of the man on the throne reaches out his hand and, with his finger, points to the open page of one of the books. The voice resumes, “Here, and here,” the hand turns the page, “and here, and here, and here,” another page turns, “and here, and..”

‍

“How long is this going to go on? What are you looking at?”

‍

The voice: “You stone-hearted serpent, though you chose wickedness towards your neighbor to satisfy your pride, these are the times your neighbor, my good and faithful servant, obeyed my command to love, by praying for you” (Matt. 5:43-46, Luke 6:27-28, Rom. 12:21, Prov. 25:21-22, Matt. 22:39, Eph. 4:32).

‍

A deafening quiet envelops the room. For the first time in his life, the judged man realizes he has no defense. He drops his arms, droops his shoulders, and lowers his eyes. Eventually, in a meek tone of complete submission, the judged man stammers, “All those times, my neighbor prayed … for me?”

‍

The curtain lowers on this hushed and solemn scene.

In this fictional story, the persecuted neighbor did what God had commanded him to do; he prayed for his enemy. But what if he hadn't? How would that rewrite the story? Would the testimony of the judged man against his neighbor now have merit? Since the ways of the Lord are not our ways (Isa. 55:8), none of us know the answers to those questions.

‍

But though we don't understand the ways of our Lord, we can understand the ways He calls for us to live. And one of those ways is to love your enemy. And judging from the Bible verses referenced above, He's pretty adamant about it. Reflect on your life right now. If you were the persecuted neighbor in this story, would the Lord have called you “His good and faithful servant” (Matt. 5:14-28)?

‍

Praying for our enemies is hard! Yet we are called, as much as it depends on us, to live in peace with everyone. Leave the judgment to God where it belongs (Rom. 12:17-19). Please pray on that calling as you feel led by the Holy Spirit.

‍

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2).

‍

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.