Without Prejudice

While I was working in Jos, I saw quite a number of out-patients over the relatively short period I spent at the state specialist hospital. Jos isn’t as modern or metropolitan as Port Harcourt, and there weren’t so many hospitals - both public and private, so most clients attended the government hospitals which were cheaper than the private ones.

I would usually listen patiently if a client felt inclined to tell me a story or two about themselves, and this was a bit more common with the older patients. I heard an awesome story from a lady who had been around when vehicles were a rare sight in Jos, and how she had watched the city develop right before her eyes. I was told some weird and scary stories, and some sad ones too. I remember one man interpreting for his mum about how she had spent three days in the bush running from terrorists the previous week. Of course there were those who kept to themselves and gave as little information as they could, but everyone was attended to according to their need, including those who admitted to doing something illegal or immoral.

All that time, I never could shake the thought from my head that I had probably or would sometime during my time there attend to a terrorist without knowing it. It felt really scary that I might have prescribed medications for someone who was part of the group that nearly killed me when a bomb went off some weeks previously, but I did my job all the same and served them according to their needs.

It was even more problematic for Jesus when He walked this Earth, for when the sick came to Him He knew exactly who they were. He didn’t need them to tell Him their stories, He knew them all. He knew where they were coming from and what they had been doing, and worse - He knew where they were going and what they would be doing. Yet He healed them all!¹

God is so good, He doesn’t discriminate because of our sins; He loves us all. He wants us to stop sinning and start living right², but He doesn’t wait for us to be clean before He offers His hand. He already offered His life long ago³. Take it and be clean.

God’s goodness rises above our own inherent wickedness, and offers to take us up with Him.

Don’t let human judgment stop you from accessing Divine mercy. Rise up and live.

¹ Mat 12:15

² 2Pet 3:9

³ Rom 5:8