Some of us will be familiar with the story told of an elderly woman who went to the grocery store to do some shopping. When she returned to her car she noticed four strange men getting into it.
The woman dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse and pulled out a small handgun that she carried for her protection. She ran to the front of her car, aimed the pistol at the men and began screaming at them at the top of her lungs. She ordered them out of the car and warned them that if they didn’t, she would blow their brains out.
“I know how to use this gun and don’t think I won’t!” she screamed. The four men didn’t hesitate. They threw open the car doors, scrambled and ran! The woman was trembling but kept her composure. When she was certain the men were gone she put the gun back into her purse, picked up her bags and loaded them into the back seat of the car. She then climbed into the driver’s seat and decided to go immediately to the police station to report the incident.
But she struck a problem. Her key wouldn’t fit into the ignition. A quick glance around the interior confirmed she was in the wrong car! Then she spied her vehicle parked four spaces away. She loaded her bags into her own car and drove to the police station to confess what she had done. When she told the story to the sergeant he couldn’t control his laughter. He just pointed to the other end of the counter where four very shaken men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly white woman.
The woman apologised and no charges were laid.
Sometimes things are not as they appear are they? Have you ever jumped to conclusions prematurely? You may not have pulled a gun but you may have said wrong words or had the wrong attitude toward someone or spread a false rumour about someone. We are capable of making these kinds of mistakes.
Don’t judge the Christian faith by looking at some who claim to follow Jesus. Sometimes we can all fail but some deliberately hurt the name of Jesus by their hypocrisy or “churchianity”
Look to the person of Jesus . He is the only perfect One who ever lived and He deserves our allegiance. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me”. John 14:6
Bruce Stewart.