I was driving down the road and was approaching a house that looked, to me, like the typical “crack house.” As I got closer to the house I noticed a man standing on the front porch. A cigarette drooped from his mouth. His scraggly beard, sunken eyes, weathered skin and frail body all added to my suspicions and pre-judgement that this man was a “shady” character. I hate to admit it, but I had made an accusation against him simply based on his appearance. But, as I passed by this “shady-looking” character I noticed that he had a plastic watering pot in his hand and he was watering a beautiful, pink petunia on his porch. In that moment, I was ashamed of all my preconceived ideas about the man.
I realized that no matter what impression he might be giving because of his outward appearance, he was a man who had a tender place in his heart. He had a care and concern for something other than himself. He had an appreciation for the beauty of God’s Nature. I suppose God just “set me up” for this encounter to show me that my first impressions of a person are not always accurate, and that in every person we can find a “redeeming quality” if we look close enough.
I thought about how the Bible says “God so loved the world” and how incomprehensible it is that He could love us when we’re so vile, sinful and disobedient. But then, I saw this man watering a petunia on his front porch, and I got just the smallest glimpse of the man that’s hidden away on the inside of that rough exterior. Yes, my heart connected with the man, simply because he was watering a petunia. It’s crazy, I know! But I’m so thankful that I saw that man and that God convicted me of my “prejudice” toward one of the people that HE LOVES.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
