One frosty November evening, a New York police officer walking down the sidewalk of a shopping district passed by a homeless man sitting on the cold concrete with his legs straight out in front of him. This homeless man wore neither socks nor shoes, and his bare feet were covered with large red blisters from exposure to the cold. The officer stopped and asked the man, who looked like he might be in his fifties, if there was any way he might help him.
The man politely declined any assistance.
However, the officer couldn’t get the suffering of the shoeless, homeless man out of his mind. A little while later he went into a nearby shoe store and, with his own money, purchased a pair of outdoor boots and a pair of woolen socks. Going back to the homeless man, he gently put the socks on the man’s feet and then laced up the boots. The homeless man thanked the police officer for his kindness. Unknown to the police officer, a passerby videotaped the act of kindness on a cell phone and sent a copy of it to the N.Y.P.D. and also to a local news station. To the surprise of the officer, the story went viral and brought him lots of publicity.
Do you know that when we were spiritually homeless, Someone came near us and did the greatest act of kindness the world has ever known? Homelessness in this life causes pain, sorrow and misery, but homelessness in eternity is far worse. Its pains and miseries are more intense and will never cease. Souls who have never come to Christ for forgiveness are spiritually homeless. When they pass out of this life, they will be imprisoned in the darkness of a lost eternity, never knowing a moment’s rest. In hell there will be no cleansing of sin, and tender care for wounded hearts will never be found. In hell, the opportunity to repent and return to God will be gone forever!
When the officer bought the shoes, it was a random act of kindness. The officer hadn’t planned on buying shoes before he started walking his beat. But there is nothing random about the Son of God coming to save us. God’s plan of salvation was drawn up before the creation of the universe. He knew that the men and women He would create would fall into sin and forsake Him. God the Father sent His Son to be the Saviour. The Lord Jesus would go all the way to Calvary where He would be nailed to the cross and give His life a ransom for sinners.
Not a step the Lord Jesus ever took was random. Nothing ever happened to Him that was unforeseen. From the manger to the cross, from the cross to the grave, and from the grave to the right hand of the Majesty on high, it was all planned to bring glory to God and forgiveness to sinners. “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)).
He is the only One who can bring healing to sin-stricken hearts.
The greatest act of kindness and love this world has ever known is the Lord Jesus Christ’s willingly giving His life for sinners. Through faith in Christ alone souls can return to God, be forgiven, and find a home in His love. The Saviour paid the supreme price to save our souls. Can’t you trust Him? He said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).