Brotherly Love
When I was born into the Robinson family, I did not know anybody, yet I was related to dozens of people who had the same last name. I had to be taught about their existence and the places where they lived. In time, I was taught about other family members who lived before me.
My immediate knowledge of family was my Mom and Dad, and even then, that was an element of faith. I mean, how did I know that James and Margaret were my parents, except that I was told that it was so, and that they demonstrated the role of parenthood to me?
My knowledge of my siblings, Jim and Sue, was again an element of faith, based upon the statements of my parents and family friends.
I had no choice of my family, and yet I learned to love them. My parents taught me respect for others, beginning with my siblings. As a matter of fact, Jim and Sue received preferential treatment from me, because they were my family, and families stick together and help each other (right?).
My Christian parents introduced us early to their larger Family, God's Family. I learned about a whole bunch of people who cared for me and loved me, much as my parents did. In time, I learned the basis of membership into this special Family. Membership required Godly sorrow for what I had done, and it involved coming to Jesus for forgiveness. It required a personal decision to surrender the control of my life to this Jesus, and to be baptized into Him, if I ever expected to "make Heaven." (How embarrassing!)
Why all the fuss? I didn't have to go through as many hoops to be a Robinson! . and yet the Robinson family has no power to deliver me from the consequences of my sins at the end of time. As strong and as loving as my parents were, they could not rescue me, nor take my place at Judgment.
I needed a Savior, with authority bigger than my Family, Someone with divine authority to take my place and to pay my sin-price. Only Jesus could be that Savior.
Only my selfish pride kept me from surrender to Him. Pride disabled me from seeing the gravity of my sin, and it robbed me of the humble heart I needed to receive His saving grace. Only when I dumped my selfish pride could I make a free choice to follow Jesus. My brother and sister did the same. We are glad to be Robinsons. We are humbly grateful to be Christians.
I am still ignorant of the individuals of God's larger Family, but, when I meet them, I treat them with the respect of a family member, for God has made them my brother, my sister!
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