Under the Hood

Shiny rims, nice paint, and tinted windows changes the look of any car to make it look more valuable. My eleven year old son get ecstatic when he spots a car that he really likes. There have been several times when he has acknowledged these cars from the back seat while I was driving. He gets so excited that I sometimes slam on my brakes because I think something is wrong. He then says, "Mom, did you see that car?"

My response is always, "Really?"

He replies, "Sorry, but did you see it though?"

"No son, I was too busy driving."

When my son spots these cars, he only sees what's on the outside. He doesn't know what kind of gas mileage the car gets, how much it costs, or the individual car fax. He knows that mechanics and mechanical engineers are in charge of how a car operates. Each care is build differently and he wants to learn how. This is what he wants to learn as he get older. But for now, he loves them no matter what.

I started thinking that people look at each other how my son looks at cars. People judge whether or not they like something by what is on the outside, but have no idea of what is under the hood.

There are no two people on earth that are exactly the same, yet difference are not celebrated enough. For example; there is a black, young male who has the sweetest the personality, shot by a white police office because of the color of his skin. Under the hood of the black teenager could have been an invention to help save the planet or cure cancer, but it's gone.

Another example, is an elderly person walking on the sidewalk, who needs help carrying groceries. Everyone passes her in the street like she's invisible. In her mind, she's thinking if someone helps her, she will bless them monetarily. However, no one stopped to helped, so she kept her money.

Lately, people judge first and love last, but God tells us it should be the opposite. Fear is on the horizon because society has forgotten how to love. If the human race would love first and judge last, a lot of the violence that is happening would cease.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:7-10 NIV states:

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

The key points that we should take away are "above all, love" and "use whatever gift." It shouldn't matter what is under the hood of a person's heart, love them anyway. Use your gifts and talents to love others. Let God be the judge of what is under a person's hood. He is the mechanic. We will take care and love the cars on the outside, then drive them to the mechanic to get fixed. We will take them to the mechanic because we love them and want to see them run well. We should desire to help other people run well too, by loving them so much, it makes them go to Jesus. "Love covers a multitude of sins." Love the sin out of a person, Jesus did this when He died on the cross for us. Since He, the ultimate mechanic of hearts, did this for everyone, we should do the same.

reference:

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® www.biblegateway.com