Thought for the Month - April 2007

Who cares anyway? - By Pastor Ian Wilson

Clive Collins was opening his car boot in a car park in Boscombe, Dorset, when the manhole cover tipped and he slipped down the 5ft hole. He said, "Probably about twenty people walked by. The more I called out, the less they seemed to notice me."

Mr Collins also said, "What surprised me is that they didn't make eye contact. A woman actually parked along side my camper and put the hood up on her car. I said can you please call me an ambulance and she refused to acknowledge the fact that I was there."

Mr Collins said one shopper did acknowledge him but did nothing to help. "One chap looked straight at me in his car driving very slowly by and I waved. He waved back and then carried on". Mr Collins was taken to hospital and needed 47 stitches and treatment for two broken ribs, a chipped tooth and a strained groin. After a struggle he was able to call from his mobile and seek help for himself.

I went to the Ukraine a few months ago, where I was based mainly in the city of Kharkov. Recently in Kharkov a lady was attacked by a man carrying a knife. She lay at the side of the road and no one would help her. A passer by from a local church saw the lady stopped and took her to hospital sadly she died soon after being admitted to hospital.

We cannot generalise too much but at times it seems that so few really care about each other. Do you feel that no one cares about you?

Both these stories remind me about the Good Samaritan. He had been attacked and was left for dead. We know that a priest and a Levite both approached him at separate times. Both of them passed by and ignored him, but there was one who cared enough to stop.

Luke 10:33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him"

We know the rest of the story how the Samaritan helped and took care of the man, he also paid for everything.

Jesus Christ came to this world and had compassion on us. He went to Calvary and paid the price for our redemption. When one trusts Christ it doesn't end there. Jesus keeps on caring for us until he takes us home to heaven.

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you"

In an uncaring world you can find a caring Saviour.

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!