I am sure most boys and girls expect to be treated with kindness by their friends and their families, but they would not expect kindness from an enemy. There are many verses in the Bible that tell us how kind God is, and if you will read the following verses, then I will tell you a little story that will help you to understand the meaning of kindness a little better.
These verses are found in Titus 3:3-53For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:3‑5): “We ourselves ... were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived ... hateful, and hating one another. But ... the kindness and love of God our Saviour ... appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”
This story is about a raccoon—an animal we don’t particularly like. They are just too smart, and they can be destructive. Their paws are like little hands, allowing them to climb, open doors, pry off garbage can lids, unscrew caps, and they are always scrounging for food. They have a black mask of fur around their eyes and look like a robber. And, like a robber, they mostly prowl at night.
This raccoon in our backyard was hungry, so he climbed on top of the compost bin, pried the lid open enough on one side so he could squeeze into the bin. Soon he ate his fill of food scraps and peelings, and then he wanted out. But getting out was a different story.
Mr. Raccoon couldn’t seem to figure out how to get out of the bin. He was trapped in the messy compost where it was cold and wet. He found the slatted vents near the bottom of the bin and began to chew his way through these slats. Soon he had a hole large enough to get his head out. Then he kept working to make the hole bigger, until his head and front paws were out, but his body was too fat to squirm through the hole. There was no hope of his chewing the hard plastic to make the hole large enough to escape.
After watching his frantic struggles for some time, I could see he was getting weaker and would eventually die there. I had pity on him and decided to come to his rescue.
I found a long board, carefully removed the compost bin lid and slid the board into the bin at an angle. The board gave him a “bridge” to climb out on. The smart raccoon saw immediately what to do. He climbed cautiously to the top, and he soon climbed out on the “bridge” and made his escape. It was a slow escape because he was so weak, wet and covered from head to tail in mud. He dragged himself away from that awful prison. If he learned his lesson, I don’t think he will ever get caught in our compost bin again.
This story of a destructive animal being shown kindness and mercy is a picture of what God has done for sinners. We did nothing to deserve His love and grace, just as that destructive raccoon didn’t deserve any kindness from me. I think even boys and girls know that we all are sinners and deserve punishment for our sins in the lake of fire. But God saw us separated from Him in the darkness of sin and unable to save ourselves. In His love and kindness, He and His Son Jesus made a plan, a “bridge,” so we could come back to Him. That “bridge” was the cross where His Son Jesus gave His life and paid the penalty for the sins of all who would trust Him as their Saviour. Jesus is our “bridge of escape” from the awful penalty we deserve for our sins. There is no other way; there is no other name on earth that will act as a bridge to God.
The raccoon saw there was a way of escape after I put the board in the compost bin for him to climb out on. He used it and escaped to safety. I hope when you read this you will be as smart as the raccoon and use the “bridge” God provided through the death of His dear Son Jesus, so your soul will be saved for eternity. This is the sinner’s only hope of escape from death and judgment that is sure to come. “Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Nehemiah 9:1717And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. (Nehemiah 9:17)).
ML-10/27/2013