A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers 

1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”  Our judgment is faulty at best. Hence, our Scripture lesson today which reminds us that we are prone to make poor judgments of others—and they of us.  In 1884 a young man died. After the funeral his parents requested an appointment with the president of Harvard University, Charles Eliot. They expressed their desire to do something in memory of their son. Eliot looked at the modestly dressed couple and decided they didn’t have much money but he would indulge them. He said, “Perhaps you could fund a partial scholarship.” His father said, “We were thinking of something more substantial, like a building.” In a patronizing tone, Eliot laughed and replied that it was out of the question because buildings were extremely expensive.  The couple left disheartened.  However, Dr. Eliot later realized he had misjudged the couple. They ventured west seeking a place they could properly memorialize their son.  So, they gave their money to a little college in California, not well known at that time. In fact, they gave $26 million to this school and out of gratitude the school was renamed in memory of their son—Leland Stanford, Jr. Today that school is simply known as—Stanford University. Now, every time you hear anything about Stanford, it should remind you of the folly of our human judgments.  Most of us have been misjudged at one time or another, based on our appearance, race, gender, socio-economic status, or other individual distinctive.  How often has our Appalachian culture been the basis for untoward prejudice?  Yet, thankfully, God sees us each asequal.  No matter who we are, or what our distinctives may be, God loves us all unconditionally and never puts one person or group above another.  If you’ve been misjudged by others, you will be accepted by God with His unconditional love and grace with each new day.