About a month ago a couple of friends and I decided to brave the highlands of Baguio City, with hopes for a temporary escape from the busy life of the metro.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
Majority of the time spent was walking the streets of Session Road. Now, some of us may not find walking enjoyable, much less in a busy street such as Session Road. It’s crowded, noisy, sometimes unsettling, often irritating, and to some extent disturbing because of the uncertainties and dangers lurking within the chaos – muggers, snatchers, pick pockets, brawlers, smoke belchers and reckless drivers to name a few. Most of us would rather stay confined in a private vehicle – safe and secure as we watch the rest move along.
And then I realized something.
Though we are called to be holy – and by definition “set apart”, more often than not, we find ourselves to be the ones setting ourselves apart from the rest of the world, to the point that we become numb of the need for true connection of those who are lost.
We find it comfortable being with fellow believers. That’s good. After all, fellowship with those of the faith strengthens our own walk with the Lord. We learn from each other and build each other up in Christ. But sometimes we become too comfortable that we alienate those within our spheres of influence. Some of us would even brand others and say, “Bad company corrupts good character” as a reason for living inside a bubble. And I have often wondered just who these “bad company” really are.
Now, this is not to say that we are to lessen our time hanging out with fellow believers. Nor am I saying that we start living the way the world does. What I am saying is that Christianity is a relationship – sharing the life transformed by Christ unto another, that they may see the Lord’s glory. We are God’s love letters to the world, but how can we be read if we remain enveloped and unexposed to the ones God wants us to reach out to? We can read and know a lot about God, sin, heaven, hell and salvation, but as I’ve heard over and over, nobody will care about what you know until they know that you care.
The apostle John opened his gospel announcing that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Christ Jesus. In a world damaged, demonized, and wounded, He walked with us – with the task of reconciling us with God through Himself. He lived among us to show us how life should be lived. He didn’t contain Himself in comfort. He didn’t come for the righteous – those who have set themselves apart. He was with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, fishermen, the sick and the social outcasts of His time.
He came for us – sinners in our own way, and if we are to truly follow Him, I think we are to do the same.
