The Great Leveler of Man

Because of the rains and sickness, the church where we were waiting to give Bibles was almost empty. We decided to begin anyway. I told them that a week ago we had our largest distribution with 3 churches and worship so loud I thought the roof would shake off the building. And then here were were, just a few of us. But isn't it grand, and beautiful, and comforting to know that God doesn't see things the way we do?

Before David was anointed as the next king of Israel, his Dad had his most 'kingly' son pass before Samuel, a fine young specimen of a man who really looked the part, and God said something very important that gives us just a peek at the way He conducts business:

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

At the close of his life, King Saul was about to fight his last fight. Across the battle lines, in the enemy Philistine camp, ready to fight for and protect Israel's greatest adversary, was David, the future king of Israel. How could this be?! The once heralded Slayer of Goliath, now a fugitive!

Both men had been anointed by the Lord. Both men would lead Israel as king. Saul looked the part. He was tall, rich and handsome, and he was leading his countrymen into battle. David looked anything but the part. He was young and ruddy, an outlaw on the wrong side of the lines. He was confused and lost, but he had one thing that Saul lacked. One thing that would make all of Israel remember him as the greatest king ever to lead them. One thing that even God could see....David was a man after God's own heart.   He had years of screwing up left in his bones, and yet God stands outside of time.  He sees the beginning and the end of every man.

He loved him. and when we read the Psalms we see how tender and genuine that love really was, we have a glimpse of what Almighty God can see.

It's not in the numbers. It's not in the appearance of greatness that we find courage or integrity, honesty, or true love. Saul was tall and rich, but he was a scared, coward of a man! God is the Great Leveler of Man, because He sees us from the inside out.

"This little Haitian girl, this Haitian pastor, this white American man...doesn't matter. He sees our hearts!"

Only God knows! Only God!

A Bible distribution of the grandest proportion, or a few people who've braved the rains to step out of their homes and walk to a little country church to hear a stranger speak about Jesus and give them the greatest treasure in the world, the Living Word.

I pointed to a young man sitting quietly in the pew and said,
"For all I know, you could be the next president of Haiti! I could well be in the presence of the next leader of this country!"

He smiled.

"But, if you've repented of your sins, and you follow Jesus alone, then all of us in this room are nobility. Sons and Daughters of the Most High King!"

More people trickled in. We'd brought 36 Bibles. When we were finished and it was time to go, all we had left were the cardboard boxes.