When we are healthy we embrace life and look for opportunities to enjoy it, prosper in it, and share it with others. When we are not well, experiencing great difficulty in various ways, we typically find ourselves far removed from experiencing life as such. However, it is common that at these times we think of the prospect of living eternally in friendship with God without the difficulties and burdens of present day life. We may then reflect on the question of what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus was once asked this very question.   He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10: 27. He then relayed a story I think we are all familiar with; the parable of the Good Samaritan. I see 3 lessons to be learned from this story. 1. We are to set aside our prejudice and show love and compassion for all others who are in need. 2. If our neighbor is in need and we can supply, we give freely and generously without expectation of return. 3. Keeping the law in its entirety with the intent to save ourselves is impossible; we need help, we need a savior, and this is Jesus.

Every day we hear of people dying; sickness, age, accidents, war, and more. Many are not at all prepared for the unreconciled state they will eventually find themselves in before God. Without good Samaritans to pray that the message of salvation is brought to them, and then that they are invited to the altar of grace, they stand in danger of the second death. We need to carefully consider this thought through. How will a soul feel after leaving this earth in a very painful and difficult way? Then faced with the prospect of unending torment?  While all of mankind is equipped for immortality, eternal life is a gift of God, which is hidden from many because of their particular circumstances of life.

Therefore, let us without prejudice, be a good neighbour to the multitude of souls leaving this earth daily and continually, in prayer, remember them. This is possible if we live and love like Christ.