I’m sure we all label other people. Not intentionally, but it’s in our subconscious. We look at the people that come from Manly or the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, and we immediately assume that they have a lot of money to burn, that they are the ones who ‘look down on everyone else’. We assume that it’s the Aboriginal people who are ‘below the rest’, or that if there are twins in a family, that one has to be good and the other ‘evil’. Always when my twin brother and I catch up with our friends and when we are in a bigger group with their friends too, people ask us, ‘Who’s the evil one?’ And I always answer ‘Does it matter? No one has to be evil!’ And that’s true, we don’t. Because no matter where you are, you get labeled, whether you liked it or not- how you walk, how you talk, how you present yourself; people see that, and no matter how perfect they can be, they label. And sometimes its hard to resist, you see someone with spiked hair, nose-rings, a dozen ear-rings on one ear, maybe even tattoos like no tomorrow, and so you label that they must belong to a gang, and then you also infer that they must be into drugs. But really, you don’t really know that. They could be the next Mozart, maybe even the next James Cameron or Peter Jackson, you just don’t know, but because you’ve gone ahead and boxed them in, it’s gonna be harder for you to ‘believe it’ when they do actually do something big.
You can’t judge people for being people by how they look. You look at the whole package, the picture; rather than deduce what the picture is about from just the eyes, the nose or the mouth. Because if you do focus on that, you won’t see the true representation of what Jesus wants that person to be. In fact, I’m bold enough to come out and say that yes, I in fact do label people. I’m not perfect, if I was, then I wouldn’t need Jesus, which I know I need more now than ever before. I can remember a couple of instances during 2008 and 2009 when Dad came back from picking up the pizzas at our local Dominoes Pizza joint at Mascot. He shook his head, saying something like ‘Those Indians don’t know how to cook pizza’. I know that sometimes Dad can be a little bit harsh in what he says, but aren’t we all too to some extent?
Most people without hesitation would say people who live in the western world will have a better life than those anywhere else. But as I think about it more and more, I may beg to differ. Sure they would then have a safe and secure place to live in, compared to those in Africa, but would they have the better life if they are surrounded by a computer, a mobile phone, numerous shopping complexes, not to mention multiple cinemas, TV and electrical goods, air-conditioning at home, and a comfortable car? How-about those who are ‘struggling’ in Africa, with no running water, unsanitary hygiene and no food? Sure those who really live in Africa in poor conditions should get the water, food and medical supplies that are needed to live an adequate live, but should they then get the ‘western’ treatment?
Should we in the west think, ‘They’re not living the good life unless they are subjected to the way that we live?’ Sometimes it’s hard to believe that some people do believe that. In Australia, it happened towards the Stolen Generation, when Aboriginal Australian children were taken from their family and taught the ‘Australian’ way of life and culture. Is that right? When is enough enough? Did we label, and not even know it? Sometimes labelling is as big as what I’ve described, discrimination and just pure arrogance, that you and your way of life are more important than those around. But sometimes it can be just as small as believing that the latest i-Phone, Blu-Ray DVD player, TiVo, or maybe even Twitter or Facebook, will fill you up when it doesn’t. Just because everyone else has a Blu-Ray DVD player doesn’t mean you need it too. You can still get the player, but only that if you don’t get it, technology will rapidly expand and you will be left behind and never catch up...and also you’d like to start buying Blu-Ray DVD’s after all. Your motivation behind what you do, and how you act shouldn’t be dependent on anyone else.
Do you do these things to get noticed? For people to accept you, to be loved? I’m telling you, sometimes you will get noticed; sometimes you will be loved, but sometimes is all the love can be for. When the next best thing comes along, people will latch onto that like a leech, and then you’d have to decide, am I getting this stuff because of the craze, the popularity, knowing that if I don’t keep it up, I may lose some friends, and maybe even lose my ‘life’ as I know it! But sometimes that’s what we need to do, lose our life. In Matthew 11:39, it says that ‘...whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it...’ You scratch your head and you think, why do I want to lose my life? I’ve got everything I need’. Everything you think you need. Let me illustrate. When Dad was in primary school he brought Nesquick to school, and during that time, a lot of people started to befriend Dad. But when the nesquick ran out, so did the friends. Ever wonder how long things last? Not that long. In fact, the average time a person can stay in the limelight is probably 2-3 years. People in the acting circle, sporting arena, even talented music stars and celebrities only have the spotlight on them for so long. Because in the end, people get older, their abilities wane, someone or something better comes along. Because of all this stuff that happens, people have been rocked from side to side. They’re yearning for someone that doesn’t change, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Jesus doesn't change! God “...is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...” (Ephesians 3:20). Far beyond our comprehension of what we can even conceive of who God is, he is much more than that. Peter walked on the water when Jesus called him to. And He’s wanting everyone to walk on the water too. To step out of the boat, just like Peter did. Afraid? You bet. Scared? Immensely! Going to get out of the boat? It’s up to us. God is calling...will we answer?
A line in the popular Psalm 23 goes like this- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me!. God is with us during the bad times, the good times, and the times in-between.
Are you going to step out of the boat. He is waiting.
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