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Yet so undeserving, He came to love
Thursday, March 11, 2010

This thought was inspired when my mom’s car drove past Changi Prison. We were chatting about the upgrades of the prison and how the old prison was in such a bad condition. You could sleep at night and have your furry roommates nibble at your toes, rats, that is.

“But they’re criminals, don’t they deserve it? After all, why should they be given a comfortable place to stay in after their evil deeds?” I thought, as we turned left at the junction. God chided me. “Where is your compassion? Where is your mercy?” came the reply.

Such is a judgmental spirit we tend to have. We reason our actions on what people have or have not done, or whether they are fit for such treatment. To a friend who takes your kind actions for granted, who laughs off and overlook the extra miles you take to help them. To the project mate that bums about doing nothing, leaving you all the work to do, and claiming credit for the “A” your work has brought forth. To the annoying brat who mocks your forgiveness and fool around with your second chances. To the prisoners serving their sentences, they did wrong and got their just desserts.

We as humans on one hand tend to take things for granted, on the other, seek appreciation and recognition for our efforts. We sometimes reach to a conclusion that those who don’t bother to even reciprocate our goodwill and take it for granted really shouldn’t be given such a privilege.

First, gratefulness; they don’t deserve me doing all these for them if they aren’t gonna care. Straight to the point, I’ll say, hey you know what? I think we’re horribly ungrateful people in the first place. All the things in our lives, having it with us all the while, nothing really matters. Parents, a roof above ours head, money, the list goes on. When it’s gone, we feel the discomfort and realize, “hey, those were kinda important…” It seems unfortunately, that we often begin to truly appreciate things too late, when we lose them.

From a Godly view, we probably all take His grace for granted way too much. Take for example, the Israelites when roaming in the wilderness for 40 years. God did many mighty miracles in front of their eyes; surely they should have revered Him. He parted the Red Sea for them to pass, and closed it up upon their enemies. Surely He must be God? He led them by a pillar of cloud by morning, and a pillar of fire by night. Surely He must be God? He sent forth gushing waters as Moses struck the rock. Surely He must be God? He fed them with heavenly manna as they cried out to Him. Surely He must be God? But no, despite all the wonders and miracles seen with they own eyes, they turned to worship other gods. (That was until they repented) But hey, surely if it was us, after seeing all these, we would praise Him in gratefulness right?

Perhaps. Not. Sure, rare are such sights of amazing visible feats and they were meant for old times like that, you know, maybe not for modern society. I mean like you know, there’s nothing there for us to be much thankful for? But what defines a miracle? Something that’s mind-blowing? Something impossible made done? Something tangible and visible we can see? Like… a house to stay and beds to sleep in, surely we thank Him? A home where we do not worry about the next time food arrives on our plates, surely we thank Him? A proper education system, surely we thank Him? A country with freedom of religion, surely we thank Him? A land free from war and natural disasters, surely we thank Him? We do right? Or do we not? Are these not miracles by which He provided for you? And are these not miracles and wonders you see before your very eyes? Do we lift up our voices in praise and adoration for God in thanksgiving for His daily mercies and grace?

So why then do we take all these things for granted? Life become so comfortable, we forget what is given and what is deserved. We deserved nothing, but are given everything we need to live life as it is. God provided the Israelites all they needed, but their hearts grew hard and forgot Him. Similarly, God has provided so much for us, but our hearts grow hard, and we take things as though we deserve them, by no merit, we ask(demand) for more, and when we don’t get that more, we complain and murmur about God’s indifference to us and our prayers. We really are a darn ungrateful bunch aren’t we? So then God ought to hold back His blessings since we’re such an unfeeling and ungrateful people right, according to how we as men do things. But He doesn’t. Because He loves.

Which brings me to my next point. Love. A love that is unconditional, regardless as who the person is, what the person has done, or how he or she reciprocates your actions. Matthew 10:8b writes “freely we have received, freely shall we give” and in 1 John 3:11, "Beloved, if God loved us, we also ought to love one another" so as God has love us unconditionally of who, what and how we are, we rightfully ought to do the same for others.

The word “agape” should be a representation of how our love should be. An unconditional and spiritual love of God for men and when we do things, regardless out of goodwill or not, we should not have any expectations. It could be put as such, a one-sided affair. You go all out for someone, whether or not there are any returns. You do it, because you love, and by love, I refer to “agape” love and not “eros” love, which represents the carnality and sensual affections people have for another. An example would be a mother’s love for her child. Unspeakable depths of love she goes to love her child with. Likewise we should love the people around us, and have mercy unto those who transgress us. Because ultimately, we’re the ones that are set free.

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