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I just finished my second year as the High School dean at Wilderness Christian Assembly a couple of weeks ago. It was an exciting week of learning and fun! This year’s camp theme was “Who is My Neighbor” which is taken from the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. We spent the week learning what it truly means to be a good neighbor, who our true neighbors are, and why it is so important to be a good neighbor.
As was Jesus’ message from the parable, everyone is our neighbor, even our greatest enemy. We looked at various aspects of what being a true neighbor is all about. It’s not the holding of the door for your friend. It’s not cheering on your favorite athlete. It’s not saying your “please” and “thanks yous.” Although those have a part to play, it isn’t what Jesus was getting at. Being a true neighbor is about doing the hard things: not talking back to a teacher who called you out for something you didn’t do, being nice to the bully who always makes fun of you, and helping that annoying co-worker who tattles on you every chance they get.
Jesus showed us the ultimate meaning of being a neighbor by dying on the cross. He suffered, bled, and died for people who rejected, insulted, and despised him. But it is only by the blood of Jesus that we have any hope of being the true neighbors we were created to be.
And why should we care about being good neighbors? Because every single human is created in the image of God, in His likeness. We were created to be neighbors to one another in perfect harmony. Unfortunately, we will not be able to experience that perfect picture of true neighborship until we get to heaven. But until that time comes it is our duty as followers of Jesus to bring a little taste of heaven here on earth as He said in His prayer “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”